Single Justice Procedure - Worth going to court?

[SteveS Cup]

Hi all,

So I was caught speeding. Replied to the notice of intended prosecution. I've now received a Single Justice Procedure Notice.

I've read that if you're pleading guilty there's no point in going to court as they simply issue points and a fine based on your income unless they feel a disqualification is justified and it then goes to a proper court hearing. Is that correct?

I'd rather get a fine and points

[agtlaw]

You will be fined in any event.

If you would rather get points then you should try to deal with the case to a conclusion using the single justice procedure. Unless you are sending in supporting documents then you should use the makeaplea website.

A single magistrate reads everything you send in. If he decides that a ban might be an appropriate order then you will be sent a summons to attend a traditional court hearing. In which case you appear at court before three magistrates or a district judge.

There are things you can say to increase the prospects of your case being dealt with to a conclusion at the single justice procedure stage and ways of legitimately keeping the fine to a minimum.