Question to boys in blue...
Discussion
Regarding my earlier posts:
Here and here, I have an update...
I'm due in the magistrates court on monday. I received 'evidence' today (less than 7 days prior to court date) in the form of a written statement by a police officer about how he set up his equipment (LT1 20-20 Speedscope and Lastec) and caught me doing 74mph.
The date of issue of the court summons is exactly 6 months and 1 day after the date of the offence. Also, the reason I didn't get a FPT is because I have a Dutch driving license and they can't put penalty points on it. Anyway, as one of the guys on the previous posts (see the thread links above) said, it might be good to plead guilty and simply ask why I didn't get a FPT. The fine for accepting an FPT is less than pleading guilty in court, and all of this because I don't have a British driving license, and I could say I'm discriminated against. This got a case thrown out, as mentioned by a previous poster.
I'm confused. What do I do? Plead guilty? Mention the fact that the court summons was issued out of time? Or both? And what about the fact that the "evidence" was disclosed less than 7 days prior to the court date?
I'd really appreciate your comments.
Thanks a lot.
Cheers,
Wim
>>> Edited by Wimdows on Friday 16th May 22:28
>>> Edited by Wimdows on Friday 16th May 22:29
Here and here, I have an update...
I'm due in the magistrates court on monday. I received 'evidence' today (less than 7 days prior to court date) in the form of a written statement by a police officer about how he set up his equipment (LT1 20-20 Speedscope and Lastec) and caught me doing 74mph.
The date of issue of the court summons is exactly 6 months and 1 day after the date of the offence. Also, the reason I didn't get a FPT is because I have a Dutch driving license and they can't put penalty points on it. Anyway, as one of the guys on the previous posts (see the thread links above) said, it might be good to plead guilty and simply ask why I didn't get a FPT. The fine for accepting an FPT is less than pleading guilty in court, and all of this because I don't have a British driving license, and I could say I'm discriminated against. This got a case thrown out, as mentioned by a previous poster.
I'm confused. What do I do? Plead guilty? Mention the fact that the court summons was issued out of time? Or both? And what about the fact that the "evidence" was disclosed less than 7 days prior to the court date?
I'd really appreciate your comments.
Thanks a lot.
Cheers,
Wim
>>> Edited by Wimdows on Friday 16th May 22:28
>>> Edited by Wimdows on Friday 16th May 22:29
Thanks deltaf,
I agree with you, but that means I'd have to plead not guilty to challenge that, right?
Do you think I could still challenge the other points, about not having had the chance of a FPT plus the fact that the court summons was issues after 6 months after the date of the offence?
Cheers,
Wim
I agree with you, but that means I'd have to plead not guilty to challenge that, right?
Do you think I could still challenge the other points, about not having had the chance of a FPT plus the fact that the court summons was issues after 6 months after the date of the offence?
Cheers,
Wim
Wimdows.
I'm not a copper but here's the best advice I can think of.
Go to court. Be really polite and admit that you were going too fast at 74mph. Being it was temporary 50 for roadworks in a 70mph limit you could express remorse for erroneously going at the wrong speed limit, say it was a mistake and that you won't do it again.
Then when the work out they can't put points on your licence you'll get a fine. Which you can pay. And put the whole thing behind you happy in the knowledge your licence is untouched and your ability to drive in this country is unaffected.
And all without the risk of annoying the beak and getting yourself a bigger fine.
I'm not a copper but here's the best advice I can think of.
Go to court. Be really polite and admit that you were going too fast at 74mph. Being it was temporary 50 for roadworks in a 70mph limit you could express remorse for erroneously going at the wrong speed limit, say it was a mistake and that you won't do it again.
Then when the work out they can't put points on your licence you'll get a fine. Which you can pay. And put the whole thing behind you happy in the knowledge your licence is untouched and your ability to drive in this country is unaffected.
And all without the risk of annoying the beak and getting yourself a bigger fine.
Kevin,
I thought the date of "the information laid before them" is the same as the date of issue of the summons. The time between the issue of summons and the date of the offence should not be more than 6 months.
I wasn't talking about the date of the NIP...
Cheers,
Wim
>> Edited by wimdows on Monday 19th May 09:46
I thought the date of "the information laid before them" is the same as the date of issue of the summons. The time between the issue of summons and the date of the offence should not be more than 6 months.
I wasn't talking about the date of the NIP...
Cheers,
Wim
>> Edited by wimdows on Monday 19th May 09:46
Right. Got back from court now. Just in case anyone's interested:
I got a 75 quid fine as the magistrates thought it (the speeding) was a bit excessive, and 4 POINTS
! Apparently they can and will keep a record even if one doesn't own a British license (fair enough).
For a first offence I do find the 4 points a bit harsh.
Ah, and since I didn't get an FPT offer, no court costs were incurred.
>> Edited by wimdows on Monday 19th May 19:02
I got a 75 quid fine as the magistrates thought it (the speeding) was a bit excessive, and 4 POINTS
! Apparently they can and will keep a record even if one doesn't own a British license (fair enough). For a first offence I do find the 4 points a bit harsh.
Ah, and since I didn't get an FPT offer, no court costs were incurred.
>> Edited by wimdows on Monday 19th May 19:02
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