Court date

[SamG40]

I've been a naughty boy and got caught speeding coming back from Cadwell in the summer. 89 in a 60 whilst I was overtaking a van.

Anyway got the NIP though the post and responded it was me driving then got a letter from the police on the 26/08 saying that it was being referred to a court hearing. Heard nothing until last week I got a letter dated the 03/12 with a notice of fine and collection order with 6 points and a £500plus fine. I've just rung them and they have said because I've missed the letter for the hearing and plea I can ask for a court date and that ruling will be wiped. Not sure whether to just pay up and get on with it or ask for a court date and attend. Have I much chance of making it worse or better if I attend?

Any thoughts welcome please.

[Jarcy]

I had a similar transgression last year. 87 in a 60 (on an overtake too).
I didn't attend court, but had the opportunity to write to the magistrate with an apology, whilst also giving the means-tested details.
I got away with 5 points, but a greater fine.

I'm happy that I have the breathing room of not incurring that extra point.
If the current Covid procedure is such that you're happy with a round sum fine and can bear the points, then keep quiet.
Complain, then if you're well paid your fine could increase to £1k+costs+victim surcharge (max), and no guarantee of knocking back the points.
I am by no means an expert in this area.

[paintman]

Suggest you wait for agtlaw to spot it.

[SmoothCriminal]

Not trolling but out of interest what kind of punishment were you expecting for being caught circa 30mph over the speed limit?

[kestral]

SamG40 said:

I've been a naughty boy and got caught speeding coming back from Cadwell in the summer. 89 in a 60 whilst I was overtaking a van.

Anyway got the NIP though the post and responded it was me driving then got a letter from the police on the 26/08 saying that it was being referred to a court hearing. Heard nothing until last week I got a letter dated the 03/12 with a notice of fine and collection order with 6 points and a £500plus fine. I've just rung them and they have said because I've missed the letter for the hearing and plea I can ask for a court date and that ruling will be wiped. Not sure whether to just pay up and get on with it or ask for a court date and attend. Have I much chance of making it worse or better if I attend?

Any thoughts welcome please.

Who did you ring?
What do they mean "missed the letter"?

[martinbiz]

SamG40 said:

I've been a naughty boy and got caught speeding coming back from Cadwell in the summer. 89 in a 60 whilst I was overtaking a van.

Anyway got the NIP though the post and responded it was me driving then got a letter from the police on the 26/08 saying that it was being referred to a court hearing. Heard nothing until last week I got a letter dated the 03/12 with a notice of fine and collection order with 6 points and a £500plus fine. I've just rung them and they have said because I've missed the letter for the hearing and plea I can ask for a court date and that ruling will be wiped. Not sure whether to just pay up and get on with it or ask for a court date and attend. Have I much chance of making it worse or better if I attend?

Any thoughts welcome please.

It is a band B offence so 4-6 points it will be, the fine will be a product of your relevant weekly income upto a £1000 max assuming it was not on a motorway, in this case you income will be presumed @ £440 pw because they had no information about your earnings. On the face of it the sentence looks about right, the pragmatic approach will be just to go with it and it will certainly be less time consuming and less grief. The fine looks about right, there is a chance of reducing the points but only if you have some serious relevant mitigation you can put forward. If it was me I would take it on the chin and move on.