speeding ticket advice

[laz11]

Hi all

I'm posting here as I would rather some advice...rather than a berating which I would probably more likely get in the speed/plod/law section; I have 6 points and yesterday (Sun) got pulled in a 30 zone doing 39 by a cop with a speed gun and promptly got a FPN. Now I'm not debating what I did was against the law and yes I should just pay the fine and accept I got caught.....however I'm here to ask if anyone has any suggestions/options however unlikely of getting off? If it's worth contesting in court although not sure on what grounds? Further info: it was by the Sussex police, on the seafront in Brighton 9.09am.

Cheers
Lawrence

[dirty boy]

Can you not do a course whereby you only pay the fine and the 3 points get wiped?

I'm sure you can do that in Suffolk.

[Targarama]

Apart from the course already mentioned I think you're stuffed. You say you accept you committed the 'crime', and 39 isn't close to 30 to enable you to say you didn't think you were speeding.

Don't worry, once you're on 9 points you'll probably not get another ticket for a while

[slideways]

i maybe wrong but dont the guns have to be calibrated every time there taken out with written proof of acuracy? maybe worth a punt

[pistolar]

Dont do the crime, then try to grizzle out of it. Just accept youre a bad boy.

[da_murphster]

http://www.pepipoo.com/

Sterling advice on there (do expect a little berating though)

I have a clean licence yet have been 'accused' several times.

The help on the forum helped me understand exactly what to do/not do.

Have been in a few uneasy situations though where I stood to get nine points and £1k fine but the plod dropped the case at the last minute - nicely they did not actually tell me so I drove 350 miles to appear at court for no reason (despite me writing to them concerned about my carbon footprint!).

I get the impression that is you know your rights and seem organised in your dealings with the police they often loose interest as there are easier way of getting their stats/bank balance up

[V8 GRF]

dirty boy said:

Can you not do a course whereby you only pay the fine and the 3 points get wiped?

I'm sure you can do that in Suffolk.

That option is usually only offered to you if you're 'just' over the limit using the 10% + 1.9 formula eg 30 + 3 + 1.9 = 34.9mph and then they have a window of 1 or 2 mph iirc where they will offer you the course. 39 would be outside that.
(That's the case in Lancs anyway)

[Druid]

Forget calibration, you can be 'done' on evidence of opinion, meaning they just need to think youre speeding and as experts in their field theyre probably right! On the other hand how many Bobbies were there?

[nawarne]

V8 GRF said:

dirty boy said:

Can you not do a course whereby you only pay the fine and the 3 points get wiped?

I'm sure you can do that in Suffolk.

That option is usually only offered to you if you're 'just' over the limit using the 10% + 1.9 formula eg 30 + 3 + 1.9 = 34.9mph and then they have a window of 1 or 2 mph iirc where they will offer you the course. 39 would be outside that.
(That's the case in Lancs anyway)

In Hants & Wilts the "Partnerships" (read revenue collectors), the formula is posted limit + 10% + notional allowance. I was done in Wiltshire at 37 mph, but one aor maybe, two other folks were at 39mph.

I believe they only offer the SAW course to clean license holders. I could be wrong there though.
Nick

[Fex2005]

Ask to see the camera calibration certificate. If they produce it then ask to see the certificate of the machine that was used to calibrate the calibration machine. If they produce that then ask to see the certificate of the machine that calibrated the collaboration calibrator. If they produce this then ask to see the calibration certificate of the calibration instrument that was used to calibrate the machine that was used to collaborate the collaboration machine that was used to collaborate the collaborator. If they produce this then ask to see the qualifications of the person responsible for collaborating the collaborator instrument. If they produce this then ask to see the qualifications of the person who was responsible for training the collaborator.

If they produce them they you fked and might as well give up, however it will keep them busy for a few months.

[Druid]

Fex2005 said:

calibration calibration calibration

The gun will be calibrated, you wont get evidence of that unless you request it in court!

[Scrooloose]

If you signed the ticket at the time that mean that you have accepted the fact you're guilty.

Just man up and take it on the chin.....

[hiltonig]

Druid said:

Fex2005 said:

calibration calibration calibration

The gun will be calibrated, you wont get evidence of that unless you request it in court!

Some of the guns like the new Unipar actually show the date calibrated on the screen so if you ask when your stopped they can show you, However I can get a reading pointing at the road surface and moving the gun from side to side, bit worrying as they say your speeding, also they operator of the gun must be trained in the use of the gun.

Edited by hiltonig on Monday 19th October 18:04

[n1ckt001]

nawarne said:

V8 GRF said:

dirty boy said:

Can you not do a course whereby you only pay the fine and the 3 points get wiped?

I'm sure you can do that in Suffolk.

That option is usually only offered to you if you're 'just' over the limit using the 10% + 1.9 formula eg 30 + 3 + 1.9 = 34.9mph and then they have a window of 1 or 2 mph iirc where they will offer you the course. 39 would be outside that.
(That's the case in Lancs anyway)

In Hants & Wilts the "Partnerships" (read revenue collectors), the formula is posted limit + 10% + notional allowance. I was done in Wiltshire at 37 mph, but one aor maybe, two other folks were at 39mph.

I believe they only offer the SAW course to clean license holders. I could be wrong there though.
Nick

Somerset partnership offer it for people caught in a 30 up to 39mph, I already had points and I was offered it.
I think the only rule is that you are only allowed one mulligan over a 3 year period. They also said they were in the process of considering the course for people getting caught on the red light cameras too...

You may be fortunate when you get your response, that they offer you the course. Your partnership should have a website I imagine that may say when (if at all) they offer the course?

[n1ckt001]

Also...

According to this link on pepipoo

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?autocom=ibwiki...

... Sussex do offer a scheme, which appears to be a mammoth full day event including a two hour practical!! They surely can't offer that to everyone who fits the 30 +10% +6mph criteria?!

[SteveScooby]

Scrooloose said:

If you signed the ticket at the time that mean that you have accepted the fact you're guilty.

Just man up and take it on the chin.....

No you haven't. Signing the ticket is not an admission of guilt.

[14-7]

Scrooloose said:

If you signed the ticket at the time that mean that you have accepted the fact you're guilty.

Another quality post. Presumably a pub room lawyer told you that did he/she?

You sign the FPN to say that you have received a copy of it. You under no circumstances accept guilt. You have the choice to either accept the FPN and take the points/fine or elect to go to court if you feel you are not guilty.

[Scrooloose]

14-7 said:

Scrooloose said:

If you signed the ticket at the time that mean that you have accepted the fact you're guilty.

Another quality post. Presumably a pub room lawyer told you that did he/she?

You sign the FPN to say that you have received a copy of it. You under no circumstances accept guilt. You have the choice to either accept the FPN and take the points/fine or elect to go to court if you feel you are not guilty.

I stand corrected. Although I'm sure I read that on Pepipoo when investigating my last ticket.

Still stand by my second comment though.

[Octoposse]

'Speed Awareness Couse' typically available only once every two years, on a clean licence, and below a threshold that escapes me but it's less than 39mph in a 30!

Re calibration - I assume device was a handheld lazer. It will (should!) have been calibrated once a year. Certificate is kept somewhere central since if it was kept with the gun it would get lost.

At the start of the shift the zero needs to be checked (ie the lazer is pointing where the sights are!) and the distance accuracy checked. Zero is checked by 'pinging' a long thin thing like an antenna on a roof with the device upright and then at 90 degrees. Range is checked on a marked distance in the yard. If a ticket is issued the device should be checked again at the end of the shifts. Both checks should be recorded in the officer's Pocket Note Book.

[SS2.]

Octoposse said:

'Speed Awareness Couse' typically available only once every two years, on a clean licence, and below a threshold that escapes me but it's less than 39mph in a 30!

OK, it varies from force to force, but...

• unlikely to be offered to anyone who has attended a similar course within the past 3 years
• a clean licence is not [publicised] part of any force's invitation criteria
• the guidelines suggest that courses can be offered to a maximum of 10% plus 6mph ie up to 39mph in a 30mph limit

[ Information courtesy of a national FOI request to all forces and SCPs ]