Caught speeding twice in two days. Help!
Discussion
Hi - newby here. Love the website and need some advice.
I've been caught for speeding twice in two days - didn't know about either until I got the letters through the door but presumably they were both from speed camera vans because there are no fixed cameras on this particular road. Didn't see either of them though. Grrr!
The first time, I was doing 49 in a 40 and the second time, I was doing 37 in a 30. I got two similar letters, saying "notice of intended prosecution" and that the BiBs have photographic evidence.
I already have three points on my licence and really am not to keen on getting six more - any more and I'd be a totter, right?
So, firstly, do they intend to take me to court, or would these be dealt with by fixed penalty? Secondly, is there anything (legal?) I can do to get out of one or both of the fines?
Needless to say, I am now driving like an 80-year-old Sunday driver and am terrified of doing anything like 31mph in case I get caught again. Any help would be most appreciated.
I've been caught for speeding twice in two days - didn't know about either until I got the letters through the door but presumably they were both from speed camera vans because there are no fixed cameras on this particular road. Didn't see either of them though. Grrr!
The first time, I was doing 49 in a 40 and the second time, I was doing 37 in a 30. I got two similar letters, saying "notice of intended prosecution" and that the BiBs have photographic evidence.
I already have three points on my licence and really am not to keen on getting six more - any more and I'd be a totter, right?
So, firstly, do they intend to take me to court, or would these be dealt with by fixed penalty? Secondly, is there anything (legal?) I can do to get out of one or both of the fines?
Needless to say, I am now driving like an 80-year-old Sunday driver and am terrified of doing anything like 31mph in case I get caught again. Any help would be most appreciated.
madant69 said:
Seen lots of threads on here about getting out of paying. Quite a few seem to end in tears though...
If it comes to it get your wife to take 3 points - you DID get her to say obey, right??
If you don't have a wife then sorry, this is out of the realm of my experience...
Humm! If they were 'scamera vans', then it is likely to have been a head-on shot in both cases. The driver might well be identifiable from the photograph. If so, an attempt to say that your wife/partner/significant other/whatever was driving could lead to a Crown Court prosecution for 'attempting to pervert the course of justice' (jail term possible) and 'perjury' (jail term also possible). I'm not a lawyer, but ...
I'd look at alternative strategies (see other threads in this Forum).
Streaky
I would guess that both would result in offers of fixed 3point penalties.
You could always go the non-signing route (lots of threads on that here), but you need to be prepared to see it through, possibly all the way to court.
I currently have a NIP for 96 in a 70, but it was across a weekend when I had a hire car and multiple people drove it. I genuinely do not know who was driving at the time, and asked for some photos, which showed a blurred blob driving the car - so no good for identification. All I could do was return the NIP blank. Guess it will end up in court, but I don't see what else I can do as I am not about to incriminate myself by completing the NIP when I've no clue if I was driving or not.
Gixxer
ps - the NIP came from a Scamera van and the photos were very blurred.
You could always go the non-signing route (lots of threads on that here), but you need to be prepared to see it through, possibly all the way to court.
I currently have a NIP for 96 in a 70, but it was across a weekend when I had a hire car and multiple people drove it. I genuinely do not know who was driving at the time, and asked for some photos, which showed a blurred blob driving the car - so no good for identification. All I could do was return the NIP blank. Guess it will end up in court, but I don't see what else I can do as I am not about to incriminate myself by completing the NIP when I've no clue if I was driving or not.
Gixxer
ps - the NIP came from a Scamera van and the photos were very blurred.
streaky said:
If so, an attempt to say that your wife/partner/significant other/whatever was driving could lead to a Crown Court prosecution for 'attempting to pervert the course of justice' (jail term possible) and 'perjury' (jail term also possible).
You know you're right. Perjury is 14 years max
I've taken to wearing a blonde wig everywhere now... Getting the g/f to grow a goatee is proving a harder task tho...
Hi all, thanks for your replies. Alas, I don't have a wife who can take the can - or anyone else for that matter. I do, however, have a fully-comp mate who would be prepared to state that he was driving the car, along with myself on those days - ie so we could say "we don't know who was driving, guv".
If we did this, what's the best way to go about it? Should I write a letter to plod, asking for the photographic evidence? If they send it and it's obviously me, then I'd pay up - but if it's not obvious (I'm pretty sure they must have got me from behind anyway), then what happens? Would another letter be sufficient or would we have to go to court? Neither myself nor my friend are too keen on this.
Would appreciate your ideas.
If we did this, what's the best way to go about it? Should I write a letter to plod, asking for the photographic evidence? If they send it and it's obviously me, then I'd pay up - but if it's not obvious (I'm pretty sure they must have got me from behind anyway), then what happens? Would another letter be sufficient or would we have to go to court? Neither myself nor my friend are too keen on this.
Would appreciate your ideas.
my idea is that your posting on a public forum the fact that you and your mate are conspiring to pervert the course of justice
That could be a trip to the showers and acting as some large mans "fag"
Suggest you either plead "not out" and look for the technicality or take it on the chin!
That could be a trip to the showers and acting as some large mans "fag"
Suggest you either plead "not out" and look for the technicality or take it on the chin!
gemini said:
my idea is that your posting on a public forum the fact that you and your mate are conspiring to pervert the course of justice
That could be a trip to the showers and acting as some large mans "fag"
Suggest you either plead "not out" and look for the technicality or take it on the chin!
Just make sure you didn't use your real name on the profile Joe...
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!
Chances of Plod checking this forum are pretty remote, aren't they, though?!
So, is this "I dunno who was driving" idea a runner then?
Also, I've now been told that if you get a total of nine points that you have to go to court anyway - not just a simple fixed penalty any more. Is this true?
So, is this "I dunno who was driving" idea a runner then?
Also, I've now been told that if you get a total of nine points that you have to go to court anyway - not just a simple fixed penalty any more. Is this true?
OK, thanks guys. I'm not going to take the risk and am just going to be good boy and pay the fines and stick to the speed limits in future.
It might not be too much fun driving at 29mph, but I guess at least I keep my licence, can sleep at nights and, hey! It's safer too.
Could someone let me know about this nine points issue though? Do you have to go to court if you get nine points?
Cheers,
Joe
It might not be too much fun driving at 29mph, but I guess at least I keep my licence, can sleep at nights and, hey! It's safer too.
Could someone let me know about this nine points issue though? Do you have to go to court if you get nine points?
Cheers,
Joe
Joe,
You dont need to go to court with 9 points - though you will if you get caught again before those first 3 expire (3 years after the date of conviction (or offence, cant remember which))
You could write an apologetic letter stating that you have received two NIPS within 2 days which you udnerstand looks very bad, however you did not know about the first until after you'd got the second and therefore it had no deterrent effect. I think it a little harsh to be done for 2 in 2 days (and yes chaps, we all know he didnt need to speed). It may not make any difference, but they may throw one ticket in the bin......
cheers
Night
You dont need to go to court with 9 points - though you will if you get caught again before those first 3 expire (3 years after the date of conviction (or offence, cant remember which))
You could write an apologetic letter stating that you have received two NIPS within 2 days which you udnerstand looks very bad, however you did not know about the first until after you'd got the second and therefore it had no deterrent effect. I think it a little harsh to be done for 2 in 2 days (and yes chaps, we all know he didnt need to speed). It may not make any difference, but they may throw one ticket in the bin......
cheers
Night
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff