Driver awareness course or 3 points? Speeding advice please.

[AtlantisWeb]

Hey guys. I currently have a clean zero points licence. Today I received a notice of prosecution letter which says that I was photographed by a static van doing 80 mph on a 70 mph carriageway. Apparently, the speed falls within the guide lines to offer me a driver awareness course in lieu of the 3 points, however I did have one of these courses about 2 years ago. Their guidelines state 3 years. Is there still a chance that I may get offered the course, or am I doomed to get 3 points and a fine? The offence occurred in Dorset incidently.

[cmaguire]

AtlantisWeb said:

Hey guys. I currently have a clean zero points licence. Today I received a notice of prosecution letter which says that I was photographed by a static van doing 80 mph on a 70 mph carriageway. Apparently, the speed falls within the guide lines to offer me a driver awareness course in lieu of the 3 points, however I did have one of these courses about 2 years ago. Their guidelines state 3 years. Is there still a chance that I may get offered the course, or am I doomed to get 3 points and a fine? The offence occurred in Dorset incidently.

Just go through the motions and see what happens.
I sat 2 within 3 years in the same county. I didn't point that out to them.

[JNW1]

AtlantisWeb said:

Hey guys. I currently have a clean zero points licence. Today I received a notice of prosecution letter which says that I was photographed by a static van doing 80 mph on a 70 mph carriageway. Apparently, the speed falls within the guide lines to offer me a driver awareness course in lieu of the 3 points, however I did have one of these courses about 2 years ago. Their guidelines state 3 years. Is there still a chance that I may get offered the course, or am I doomed to get 3 points and a fine? The offence occurred in Dorset incidently.

Assuming the administration of these courses is efficient any check by a provider should show you've been on a SAC within the last 3 years and, that being the case, I think you'll have no option other than to take the 3 points and associated fine. I feel your pain as I was done for exactly the same thing (80mph on a 70mph dual carriageway) by a camera van about 18 months ago - did the SAC which to be fair wasn't as bad as some have obviously experienced.....

[JNW1]

cmaguire said:

AtlantisWeb said:

Hey guys. I currently have a clean zero points licence. Today I received a notice of prosecution letter which says that I was photographed by a static van doing 80 mph on a 70 mph carriageway. Apparently, the speed falls within the guide lines to offer me a driver awareness course in lieu of the 3 points, however I did have one of these courses about 2 years ago. Their guidelines state 3 years. Is there still a chance that I may get offered the course, or am I doomed to get 3 points and a fine? The offence occurred in Dorset incidently.

Just go through the motions and see what happens.
I sat 2 within 3 years in the same county. I didn't point that out to them.

Interesting, always had a suspicion that the admin for these courses might not be anything brilliant and hence if you act dumb and ask to go on a second SAC within 3 years you might get away with it - your experience seems to suggest you can do exactly that!

[douglasb]

Where did you do your previous course? AFAIK Dorset aren't in the National Scheme so if offered a course you can only do it in Dorset (if caught in an area in the National Scheme you can elect to do the course at a location more convenient also in the National Scheme).

I don't know if Dorset have access to the national database to know that you have already done a course so if your previous course wasn't in Dorset there is a chance that you might be offered a course.

[rewc]

douglasb said:

Where did you do your previous course? AFAIK Dorset aren't in the National Scheme so if offered a course you can only do it in Dorset (if caught in an area in the National Scheme you can elect to do the course at a location more convenient also in the National Scheme).

I don't know if Dorset have access to the national database to know that you have already done a course so if your previous course wasn't in Dorset there is a chance that you might be offered a course.

In 2014 the Dorset PCC announced that Dorset would come in line with the National criteria of one course in 3 years whilst an investigation took place. I haven't heard of them reversing that decision but they do like to get income so may have quietly done so.
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11370095.Use...operating_outside_national_guidancesays_police_commissioner/

Edited by rewc on Thursday 2nd February 17:34

[AtlantisWeb]

douglasb said:

Where did you do your previous course? AFAIK Dorset aren't in the National Scheme so if offered a course you can only do it in Dorset (if caught in an area in the National Scheme you can elect to do the course at a location more convenient also in the National Scheme).

I don't know if Dorset have access to the national database to know that you have already done a course so if your previous course wasn't in Dorset there is a chance that you might be offered a course.

My previous course was not in Dorset.

[douglasb]

@rewc - My point was more that as Dorset aren't in the National Scheme they might not have access to details of who has attended courses elsewhere. Equally, the national lot might not be aware of who has attended Dorset courses. I had assumed that the "3 year rule" applied no matter where the course is run.

What happens in Dorset stays in Dorset.

[rewc]

douglasb said:

@rewc - My point was more that as Dorset aren't in the National Scheme they might not have access to details of who has attended courses elsewhere. Equally, the national lot might not be aware of who has attended Dorset courses. I had assumed that the "3 year rule" applied no matter where the course is run.

What happens in Dorset stays in Dorset.

That is what the CC and PCC wanted to happen. In the article I linked to they were criticised for offering the course to to those who reoffended with 3 years. Even though they are not in the national Scheme they have access to the central database which also now includes their own course attendees.

[douglasb]

Thanks rewc. If the databases are now linked it sounds like the OP is in for 3 points and £100 then.

[cmaguire]

douglasb said:

Thanks rewc. If the databases are now linked it sounds like the OP is in for 3 points and £100 then.

Mine were both in the same county so if they can't get that right...
They either offer you one or not. If they don't then that's the theory, and if they do it's another get out of jail card you can take if you want.
They could charge £500 for the course and I'd still do it as a pragmatist.

[douglasb]

cmaguire said:

They could charge £500 for the course and I'd still do it as a pragmatist.

We're getting a bit off topic, but I'd be interested to know why you would do that.

I can understand the idea of "do the course for the same price as the fine, don't get any points, therefore you've got another speeding get out of jail free card in the bank". Equally, if you're sitting on 9 points and are offered a course as an alternative to 3 points and a totting ban I can understand being (very) happy to pay more for the course to avoid points. But why would you want to pay £500 just to avoid 3 points?

[cmaguire]

douglasb said:

We're getting a bit off topic, but I'd be interested to know why you would do that.

I can understand the idea of "do the course for the same price as the fine, don't get any points, therefore you've got another speeding get out of jail free card in the bank". Equally, if you're sitting on 9 points and are offered a course as an alternative to 3 points and a totting ban I can understand being (very) happy to pay more for the course to avoid points. But why would you want to pay £500 just to avoid 3 points?

Because getting 6 in one hit is always a possibility and those 3 saved could easily make a big difference.

[Clarkeysure]

I agree 3 points is 25% of my licence gone.

I could potentially pick up 6 in one go and would then be sat on 9 points potentially for 3 years cacking my pants That 1 mistake thereafter and I am screwed!!!

I got out of 3 and did an awareness the next time - keep it clean.

[AtlantisWeb]

Well, I have sent off my admission that I was the driver. Fingers crossed, but expect the worst, I suppose.

[esxste]

I'm surprised that we haven't had the usual posts where its pointed out you've done a SAC before and not "learned your lesson" so you ought to be hung, drawn and quartered, swiftly followed by those who rage against any kind of speed limits; and feel you aught to get penalty points and a fine for only doing 80.

ETA: Good luck, hope you get the SAC.

[EU_Foreigner]

But if he has only just sent of his admission statement that he was the driver, how could Dorset offer a course if they did not know the driver?

I suspect that once they get the letter of admission back, they will then do the check on the course time frame and sent the response back of "sorry - no go".