Speeding Conviction From a Forum Post... Myth?

[Sam1990]

Was having a discussion about this earlier. After a member of another forum posted the fact they may have broken the speed limit on a public highway he was advised to alter his message in case the police were monitoring the forums, a story came out about someone being convicted of speeding after posting about it on a forum and it got me wondering how it could ever stand up in court?

His account could have been compromised meaning he did not make the post, there is no date, time or location of the offence or he could have just been lying? I'd have thought that in order to even take the case to court the police would need some form of solid evidence in order to make a case?

Sure, posting about crimes one may commit on a public message board isn't a wise move but with none of the above as evidence I'd have thought at best the police could only contact the user and offer them a few harsh words of advice about their supposed driving habits? Can anyone offer any insight into this?

[StottyZr]

I very much doubt it could stand up in court. I can say I just drove 105mph down the A638, if I was now contacted by the police and sent to court... You get the idea, its ridiculous.

[Johnnytheboy]

I'd really wory if I lived in a society where the police thought monitoring the internet for people claiming to break the speed limit was a good use of their time.

[Paul_M3]

It'd get laughed out of court surely. Anyone in theory could access my account and post a message.

Plus half the things people say on forums are lies anyway.

PS, I've just got back from doing 180mph down the A12, in a Metro. In reverse.

[Diabolik]

I know of a bloke from a motorbiking forum who used to constantly brag, put videos up on youtube etc. Had his house raided, computers taken and all that - got in big trouble though I can't remember fully what the consequences were.

I'm guessing it was the videos that did it though.

[atlex]

Diabolik said:

I know of a bloke from a motorbiking forum who used to constantly brag, put videos up on youtube etc. Had his house raided, computers taken and all that - got in big trouble though I can't remember fully what the consequences were.

Sounds more like Child Porn than a Forum Attention we, no ?

[thinfourth2]

Paul_M3 said:

It'd get laughed out of court surely. Anyone in theory could access my account and post a message.

Plus half the things people say on forums are lies anyway.

PS, I've just got back from doing 180mph down the A12, in a Metro. In reverse.

So it was you that got in my way

i was going to break the sound barrier on my 50cc scooter and some tit in a metro wouldn't let me past

[Arlen]

Posting evidence of you doing what you are writing about is not the most sensible thing to do though.

[Jw Vw]

Johnnytheboy said:

I'd really wory if I lived in a society where the police thought monitoring the internet for people claiming to break the speed limit was a good use of their time.

Exactly. As you say people 'claiming' to speed. And where is the photographic/video evidence of the person in question? As the title at the end of this thread states, MYTH. Exactly what this is.

[davepoth]

Ask 10 Pence Short about how much influence postings on internet forums can have in court.

[Mr_annie_vxr]

Never convicted based on if alone. However if there is other evidence the posts can be used as supporting evidence. ( 10PS).

Mostly only related to videos.

[ensignia]

davepoth said:

Ask 10 Pence Short about how much influence postings on internet forums can have in court.

Exactly. There was also a guy on the VAG forums who got banned after the courts found videos he had uploaded of his MK5 GTI ED30 doing crazy speeds.

[Liquid Knight]

It can be considered an admission of guilt but there would have to be other evidence to substanciate it.

For example if the driver was clocked by the authorities at speed but covered his/her numberplate to avoid a ticket then bragged about how they got away with it on a forum. With pictures of the vehicle that match the description of a vehicle in an ongoing investigation. Or a video of a speeding vehicle is posted on Youtube and someone starts a thread saying "here's me doing 150mph in a 30 zone" as well as geting nailed for it on the forum it would undoubtedly get forwarded to the Police to look into.

They have murderers and stuff to catch so I wouldn't be too worried.

[Harji]

Johnnytheboy said:

I'd really wory if I lived in a society where the police thought monitoring the internet for people claiming to break the speed limit was a good use of their time.

It wouldn't surprise me they did as the only times I see police is when they are in a van parked outside a Kebab shop, fact.

[DannyVTS]

StottyZr said:

I very much doubt it could stand up in court. I can say I just drove 105mph down the A638, if I was now contacted by the police and sent to court... You get the idea, its ridiculous.

Ha, Wakefield boy are you?

[Benbay001]

Personally id rather be safe than sorry. But i dont speed anyway No, really..

[falkster]

DannyVTS said:

Ha, Wakefield boy are you?

Could be Doncaster or even Cleckheaton.

[tucks]

if your an idiot, you could talk yourself into trouble and could have post on forums used against you. we have a copper as an active member of our local forum. however, its almost as easy...actually it is as easy as saying "yeah sorry, everything i said on the internet was explaining about a dream i had". its meaningless if you take the context away.

[ROOODBOY]

Videos are surely good enough evidence!

Saying you did 160mph in a Saxo, can't see it being enough to get to court, could (and probsbly usually is) internet b.s.

[jr123]

In the US a bloke got done after posting about doing 140 in a 40, m5 board, 140 in a 40, search for it