Accept Speed Awareness Course or chance magistrates?
Discussion
Very briefly: snapped entering a 40mph limit doing 47 (I was slowing down from 50 but obviously not quick enough). I know the road well and the cameras have been there for years - it was a momentary lapse.
I received a notice of intended prosecution a couple of weeks ago and today I was offered the speed course, points or court options.
I didn't think I'd be offered the course again so that was a surprise. However, the momentary lapse which caused me to be a bit slow on slowing down is a genuine but emotive reason. There didn't appear to be an option to submit mitigating circumstances in the first correspondence so I was wondering if it's possible to do it now or whether to chance it at a hearing?
I'm not averse to the online course but being a single, self-employed parent I have to do the school run twice every day as well fit in work - do they run the courses in the evenings as I can't really take 3 hours out of a working day.
I received a notice of intended prosecution a couple of weeks ago and today I was offered the speed course, points or court options.
I didn't think I'd be offered the course again so that was a surprise. However, the momentary lapse which caused me to be a bit slow on slowing down is a genuine but emotive reason. There didn't appear to be an option to submit mitigating circumstances in the first correspondence so I was wondering if it's possible to do it now or whether to chance it at a hearing?
I'm not averse to the online course but being a single, self-employed parent I have to do the school run twice every day as well fit in work - do they run the courses in the evenings as I can't really take 3 hours out of a working day.
I recieved a course offer from Leicestershire Police 2 weeks back. Not booked it yet but signed up for the site to look at my options and accept the course.
If you want classroom based, options are extremely limited. I was going to take a day off and pick a course centre in Peak District, take bike up, have some lunch etc but barely any dates or times available.
Online there are loads including evenings, weekends etc. Friend has done one recently, was told 3 hours but was completed in just over 2.
If you want classroom based, options are extremely limited. I was going to take a day off and pick a course centre in Peak District, take bike up, have some lunch etc but barely any dates or times available.
Online there are loads including evenings, weekends etc. Friend has done one recently, was told 3 hours but was completed in just over 2.
DrBrule said:
Very briefly: snapped entering a 40mph limit doing 47 (I was slowing down from 50 but obviously not quick enough). I know the road well and the cameras have been there for years - it was a momentary lapse.
I received a notice of intended prosecution a couple of weeks ago and today I was offered the speed course, points or court options.
I didn't think I'd be offered the course again so that was a surprise. However, the momentary lapse which caused me to be a bit slow on slowing down is a genuine but emotive reason. There didn't appear to be an option to submit mitigating circumstances in the first correspondence so I was wondering if it's possible to do it now or whether to chance it at a hearing?
I'm not averse to the online course but being a single, self-employed parent I have to do the school run twice every day as well fit in work - do they run the courses in the evenings as I can't really take 3 hours out of a working day.
If you want to give your excuse for speeding you’ll have to go to court. However saying it’s because of your emotional reason properly won’t be a reason to find you not guilty. I received a notice of intended prosecution a couple of weeks ago and today I was offered the speed course, points or court options.
I didn't think I'd be offered the course again so that was a surprise. However, the momentary lapse which caused me to be a bit slow on slowing down is a genuine but emotive reason. There didn't appear to be an option to submit mitigating circumstances in the first correspondence so I was wondering if it's possible to do it now or whether to chance it at a hearing?
I'm not averse to the online course but being a single, self-employed parent I have to do the school run twice every day as well fit in work - do they run the courses in the evenings as I can't really take 3 hours out of a working day.
Don't take it to the mags unless you have evidence that you are not provably guilty as charged, or a mitigation recognised in law.
In doing so you will be using up far more of other people's time and resources than if you'd accepted points or a SAC - and this is typically punished. The courts are likely able to impose a significantly higher fine than the fixed penalty you would be declining.
Also, doing so conflicts with your claim that you don't have availability for a SAC.
In doing so you will be using up far more of other people's time and resources than if you'd accepted points or a SAC - and this is typically punished. The courts are likely able to impose a significantly higher fine than the fixed penalty you would be declining.
Also, doing so conflicts with your claim that you don't have availability for a SAC.
Edited by trashbat on Monday 7th February 11:09
Probably best to wait for agtlaw's advice but it seems to me that if you accept the SA course then that's the end of the matter with no points.
If you opt to go to court on a guilty plea I'd presume you'll get the standard fixed penalty fine you'd get for the speed plus 3 points regardless of whatever mitigation you put forward.
Unless you're up for a totting ban - which I presume you're not having been offered the SA course - I can't see any point in going to court.
And if you do go to court you're likely to be there for longer then the 3 hours with waiting around & appearing. Waste of more of your time & the court's time.
If you opt to go to court on a guilty plea I'd presume you'll get the standard fixed penalty fine you'd get for the speed plus 3 points regardless of whatever mitigation you put forward.
Unless you're up for a totting ban - which I presume you're not having been offered the SA course - I can't see any point in going to court.
And if you do go to court you're likely to be there for longer then the 3 hours with waiting around & appearing. Waste of more of your time & the court's time.
paintman said:
If you opt to go to court on a guilty plea I'd presume you'll get the standard fixed penalty fine you'd get for the speed plus 3 points regardless of whatever mitigation you put forward.
I'm not an expert on this so I don't know what tends to happen in practice, but I don't see why it would necessarily be limited to the FPN amount. I think you would be open to an earnings-based fine and court costs.Some info here: https://www.speedingfinesuk.co.uk/speeding_fines_c...
There’s no point in going to the Magistrates Court. That speed limit is probably an arbitrary number but you’ve committed a clear cut offence and you won’t get off with it - a speed awareness course is a good result in the circumstances. I’ve done two now and only had myself to blame, as annoying as it is (one was even on my birthday). The best advice is to do your best to stick to the limits in built up areas where there’s more likely to be camera vans and fixed cameras. Use the speed limiter if the car has one and then get a move on when you’re on NSL roads.
Edited by LightningBlue on Monday 7th February 11:36
Mave said:
I think the logistics associated with a SAC are easier to manage than the logistics associated with the magistrates court 
Very good point. You're all right, I don't want to waste court time if it's not going to make any difference so I'll consider myself lucky to be offered the course and do that online - if it's a weekend or evening so be it, I can do that easily enough.
I wasn't speeding before the limit, I genuinely did start to slow from 50 to 40 but not before I passed the camera. It's on a hill going down into a small village.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 7th February 13:33
The speed, I assume, is accurate and not in debate unless you have some incontrovertible evidence to counter it.
I also assume from your comments that you admit to the speed but are considering a “momentary lapse” as mitigation in a court appearance. That still means time and money spent on attending court....in all probability more than a SAC.
Options are
Accept SAC and get one online at a time that suits you.
Decline SAC and pay fine/points, all done without attendance.
Go to court and almost certainly lose the case with added time/costs. Mitigation is usually used to deal with a ban and try to avoid it but not always easy.
If your time is that critical and more important then fine/ points only takes minimal admin time ( doing the paperwork).
I also assume from your comments that you admit to the speed but are considering a “momentary lapse” as mitigation in a court appearance. That still means time and money spent on attending court....in all probability more than a SAC.
Options are
Accept SAC and get one online at a time that suits you.
Decline SAC and pay fine/points, all done without attendance.
Go to court and almost certainly lose the case with added time/costs. Mitigation is usually used to deal with a ban and try to avoid it but not always easy.
If your time is that critical and more important then fine/ points only takes minimal admin time ( doing the paperwork).
DrBrule said:
Yes. Sounds trite but it's perfectly true. I'm not going to post it here as it doesn't need to be heard.
.
I’d suggest that the response will be “DrBrule if your emotive state was such that you didn’t spot a fixed camera that you drive past regularly was there should you have been driving. Shouldn’t you have taken a break until your state of mine improved” etc etc.
Chrisgr31 said:
I’d suggest that the response will be “DrBrule if your emotive state was such that you didn’t spot a fixed camera that you drive past regularly was there should you have been driving. Shouldn’t you have taken a break until your state of mine improved” etc etc
This! DWDCA isn't really mitigation. 
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