'paid' speeding ticket late...what will happen?

[onacrusade]

Hi all

I got a speeding ticket in Glasgow (42 in a 30, midnight, industrial estate, no cars around, police hiding behind bushes with lazer :-( ....so I accept the ticket, and pay a few days late (accidentally).

The ticket and my payment was returned to me today in the post stating that the final date the fine due had past and that they have informed the police central processing unit.

So I am wondering what happens now? A higher fine? Court summons? Why won't they accept it? Are reasons like illness taken into consideration in these situations?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Cheers

Andy

[mandat]

The same thing happened to me about 10 years ago. I was stopped by a trafpol with a radar gun and was given a FPN. I paid late and had the cheque returned to me a week later stating that the matter had been refered back to the Central Ticket Office. A month later I receive a letter saying that although there is sufficient evidence to convict me, the matter is not being taken further as it is not in the public interest. (That was the official reason, whatever it meant.)

I suspect that the matter was dropped because it would of have required the trafpol to attend court to give evidence against me and possibly his notes of that day or some other paperwork or procedure was not complete.

As I said, that was about 10 years ago, therefore the situation may be different insofar as PC Gatso does not need to attend court personally to give evidence against you. All that is required is the photorgaphs that were taken.

However, in this age of electronic tax collection, I wouldn't be suprised if they gave you another chance of paying the fine rather than pursuing it through the courts. After all, it's the £60 that they are after, isn't it.

Hope that this helps.

[gone]

You will be summonsed to appear at court. It is a matter for you what you do about your plea. If you plead not guilty, then you will run the risk of a larger fine and costs if you are found guilty.

The court will not take into consideration the fact you may have been ill in regard to the late payment of the ticket. This is out of their jurisdiction. Your only chance of help is to ask the FP office for leniency in this case and explain about your illness. They may want some proof though!

If you pay in time this is considered as an acceptance of the facts and because it saves administartive time etc, the fine is fixed (fixed penalty).

If you fail to respond within the strict time limits, that is an indication of not accepting facts and therefore a summons will follow for you to decide on the next step.

[outlaw.]

just plead dumb and poor if it gets to court.

just say it was a mistake/oversite

and i wouldent be suprised if you only get fine the same as the original ticket

just take proof you tryed to pay it.

thats if you want to pay.

me I prefer thed day mefod of pay

and thats if they can catch me first