89 in a 70 mobile camera

[mrciarano]

Howdy folks

Not going to condone judgement on this but looking for advice with a NIP I just received.

Was driving down to my parents heading southbound and got caught by a mobile camera I didn't see on the A168 (Crakehills North Yorkshire) as I was trying to get past a string of lorries that blindsided me. (I have an irrational fear of lorries when driving my MX5 - they're bloody massive - otherwise I wouldn't normally speed in those circumstances).

Had my licence less than a year and primary concern really is insurance. I'm 22 and typically run around in an unmodified '95 1.8 MX-5.

Got caught doing 89mph and haven't returned the section 172. Is it worth biting the bullet and just taking the points and changing insurer if they are unable to insure me with a SP50? I'm guessing for me it's just 3 points and a fine with me being in what seems like a band A offence. Or is there any chance of a contest to get it knocked down and attend a speed awareness course?

Wasn't sure I could see any speed camera signs on the way down either so not sure what the legality is on mobile cameras and signs - but could have missed them entirely given how many damn lorries there were.

TIA!

[LunarOne]

I think you'd get an SP30 rather than an SP50 on an A-road. I also believe 89mph is Band B, so 4-6 points and 100% of weekly income as a fine, according to https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/speeding-...

You're also likely above the cutoff limit for a speed awareness course - according to https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q584.htm

Edited by LunarOne on Wednesday 8th May 11:09

[Mort7]

I think you're outside the limit to be offered a Speed Awareness Course (79 - 86 mph), and the circumstances that you've described probably wouldn't be considered mitigating, so unlikely you'd be successful. Worth taking legal advice though. Many solicitors who specialise in this sort of case will give an initial telephone consultation for free.

If it's any consolation I empathise with you. I effing hate mobile speed cameras, which have little to do with safety, and everything to do with raising revenue - particularly through speed awareness courses.

[anonymous-user]

LunarOne said:

I think you'd get an SP30 rather than an SP50 on an A-road. I also believe 89mph is Band B, so 4-6 points and 100% of weekly income as a fine, according to https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/speeding-...

You're also likely above the cutoff limit for a speed awareness course - according to https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q584.htm

Edited by LunarOne on Wednesday 8th May 11:09

Wrong.

Plead guilty and it’s a fixed penalty and 3 points.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

mrciarano said:

Is it worth biting the bullet and just taking the points and changing insurer if they are unable to insure me with a SP50?

You won't need to change insurer as there is no legal obligation to tell them until next renewal, regardless of what they advise you to do or what anyone on here tells you. And even if you do tell them, they cannot penalise you for it until next renewal, but they can charge you an admin fee for noting it.

[mrciarano]

Mort7 said:

If it's any consolation I empathise with you. I effing hate mobile speed cameras, which have little to do with safety, and everything to do with raising revenue - particularly through speed awareness courses.

Tell me about it - was kind of hoping someone would take note that NYP didn't hit their revenue target last year and kindly write 86 on the NIP - at least I don't have to declare courses to my insurer according to my policy!

Anyone got any recommendations for solicitors? I'm based in Newcastle but don't really mind location for a telephone consultation

TwigtheWonderkid said:

You won't need to change insurer as there is no legal obligation to tell them until next renewal, regardless of what they advise you to do or what anyone on here tells you. And even if you do tell them, they cannot penalise you for it until next renewal, but they can charge you an admin fee for noting it.

I'm not staying with my current insurer past the year anyway so that sounds fine by me - bloody awful folks to deal with

[anonymous-user]

OP - what do you think a solicitor will be able to do?

Surely 3 points and a fixed fine won’t be that bad. Just drive extra carefully thereafter.

[Mort7]

I'll add that if you think lorries are imposing in an MX5, try driving a Caterham. If I sit in my Caterham alongside my (lowered) MX5, my eyeline is level with the bottom of the side windows.

Look online for solicitors in your area, there are a lots of them about.

[mrciarano]

They say shy bairns get nowt in Newcastle. Never went through this so more curious to know if there are any other implications I should be aware of - aside from 3 points and being ineligible for a speed awareness course for the next 3 years?

[dippo]

LunarOne said:

I think you'd get an SP30 rather than an SP50 on an A-road. I also believe 89mph is Band B, so 4-6 points and 100% of weekly income as a fine, according to https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/speeding-...

You're also likely above the cutoff limit for a speed awareness course - according to https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q584.htm

Edited by LunarOne on Wednesday 8th May 11:09

If the OP has only had his licence for a year, is it possible that 6 points would mean it was cancelled, and he would have to retake his test?

[anonymous-user]

Don't bother with a solicitor. Send back the form (make sure you are within the time limit), they will likely offer a fixed penalty with 3 points and £100 fine. Pay that. Job jobbed.

[syl]

mrciarano said:

They say shy bairns get nowt in Newcastle. Never went through this so more curious to know if there are any other implications I should be aware of - aside from 3 points and being ineligible for a speed awareness course for the next 3 years?

Speed awareness course is 4 hours of your life that you will never get back (and they will string it out, right up to the last minute). It depends how much you value 4 hours. They do like to make it a punishment as well as a revenue raising exercise.

Edited by syl on Wednesday 8th May 11:57

[SS2.]

Too fast for a SAC, not fast enough to be proceeded straight to court.

Expect 3 points & £100.

The cameras require no advance warning or signage - an absence of either will not provide a Get Out Of Jail Free card.

[DaveH23]

garyhun said:

OP - what do you think a solicitor will be able to do?

Surely 3 points and a fixed fine won’t be that bad. Just drive extra carefully thereafter.

An SP30 done nothing to my insurance albeit about 10 years ago.

There was even a news story running at the time where 1 particular insurer reduced premiums if you got 1 as in their experience it made people take extra care.

[Shiv_P]

New drivers
Your licence will be cancelled (revoked) if you get 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test.


So if they offer 3 points take it and learn from it

[LunarOne]

DaveH23 said:

An SP30 done nothing to my insurance albeit about 10 years ago.

Mum (83) got an SP30 with 3 points and £100 fine at the end of last year. Her insurance on her Audi A4 2.0T went up by about 25% once we let her insurer know, and those were her first points in 15 years.

[anonymous-user]

LunarOne said:

DaveH23 said:

An SP30 done nothing to my insurance albeit about 10 years ago.

Mum (83) got an SP30 with 3 points and £100 fine at the end of last year. Her insurance on her Audi A4 2.0T went up by about 25% once we let her insurer know, and those were her first points in 15 years.

I wonder if her age played a part in that increase?

[agtlaw]

garyhun said:

Plead guilty and it’s a fixed penalty and 3 points.

This is correct. £100 fixed penalty and 3 points.

[agtlaw]

LunarOne said:

I think you'd get an SP30 rather than an SP50 on an A-road. I also believe 89mph is ...

Correct about the SP30 DVLA code.

Wrong about your belief. This is a fixed penalty case.

[mygoldfishbowl]

mrciarano said:

They say shy bairns get nowt in Newcastle. Never went through this so more curious to know if there are any other implications I should be aware of - aside from 3 points and being ineligible for a speed awareness course for the next 3 years?

A fixed penalty now doesn't stop you doing a speed awareness within the next three years.