Going through a red light

[Sparks]

Looking for some help/advice

I went through a red light just over a week ago (I was being tail gated by a transit, and as it was marginal, thought it saver to keep going).
I have received the request for the drivers name, which I am about to send off, but wonder if I should inculde an explanation now, or wait for the actual NIP.
I know the chances of being let off are slim, but having been hit from behind recently, and my son was in the car this time, I just made probably the wrong decision, and went through.

Also is it a standard 3 points/£60 fine, and will this be seen as worse than speeding (i.e. affect my insurance)?

TIA

Sparks

[7db]

Others will be along shortly with more information than myself, but if you were being tailgated and decided the only safe thing to do was go through the light you may be able to plead guilty with mitigation, possibly not-guilty. For this you would need to appear in court and explain, and I would also advise engaging a solicitor. If you were genuinely being tailgated then it will show in the photos (taken 1 second apart).

The cost of this will be likely higher than the fine (although you might want to take into account increased insurance premiums).

[mcflurry]

AFAIK a TS10 will put your insurance up approx 10% for the next 3 or 4 years.

[puggit]

I wish you luck!

The partnerships are only after your money - so no point pleading with them.

As indicated above, you'll have to go to court and hope there is photo evidence.

[gemini]

This is hardly the common "partnership" problem

Red lights are there for a purpose!

In this case - if it were a genuine "I couldnt safely stop due to a tailgater" then I would plead not out and explain
You will need proof and I hope for you it lies inthe photos

Good luck

[Dwight VanDriver]

Sparks

The authority sending the paperwork are not interested in any mitigation and under the conditional offer scheme are merely after your 60 notes and 3 points which failing to conform to a traffic signal attracts.
It is quick solution for those who know they are guilty and want to get the matter over and done with, without appearing at Court.

You are not bound to accept the CO and if you feel that your mitigating circumstances are such that under duress you were obliged to ignore the lights then you should elect for a Court hearing where such matters can be aired by yourself or Brief employed to do so.

Your tailgating matter is one fraught with counter questions as to how you allowed this to happen etc. so may not well be received by the Bench.

Also a CO provides a penalty at the lower scale 60 notes instead of 1,000 (max) that a Court can impose. Poinmts (3) are the same.

dvd

[Sparks]

Thanks all.

Gemini,
I have no idea if the photo's will back it up. Surely he could have been at the limit of stopping before the line, where I would have been had I stopped smartly, and it would not be conclusive.

At the end of the day I went through a red light, 3 points/£60 and even higher insurance

Sparks

>> Edited by Sparks on Monday 22 August 11:26

[Sparks]

Dwight VanDriver said:

Sparks <snip> Your tailgating matter is one fraught with counter questions as to how you allowed this to happen etc. so may not well be received by the Bench. <snip> dvd

Thanks dvd,

I think I will just take the hit.
Not sure what I could do about the tailgating. I slowed down, to try and encourage him to overtake (suburban dual carriageway), which he didn't. Any suggestions?


Sparks

[jasandjules]

Surely if you are driving "at the speed limit" then no-one should be able to catch you up......Sooo, if he did, he was speeding, you were being nice and law abiding.. The question is whether or not the bench care and are just tax collecting that day.

I have no idea what you are meant to do with a tailgater, other than brake test him of course...

[Big Fat F'er]

Is there anyway you can speak to a solicitor before doing anything. I know it's probably pointless, but I would prefer to hear it from the horses mouth.

Trouble with the "Im so thick I'm proving Darwin correct" tailgaters is that they don't care. The best way is to slow right down (and I mean to 5mph) BUT you've got to be ready for monkey brain to climb out of the van when you stop.

By the way, if you travel that route a lot, you may spot the van again...and follow him home....just in case you need him as a witness!!!!!!!!

[bluepolarbear]

gemini said:

This is hardly the common "partnership" problem Red lights are there for a purpose! In this case - if it were a genuine "I couldnt safely stop due to a tailgater" then I would plead not out and explain You will need proof and I hope for you it lies inthe photos Good luck

With SCP getting their £60 for moving over the line to allow emergency traffic to pass through he will need more than luck

[bluepolarbear]

Sparks said:

I think I will just take the hit. Not sure what I could do about the tailgating. I slowed down, to try and encourage him to overtake (suburban dual carriageway), which he didn't. Any suggestions?

You should add the amount of "safe following distance" the tailgater is missing to your "safe following distance".

eg if at a given speed / conditions you feel you should be following with a gap of 100ft to the car in front to stop safetly and the tailgater is say 20ft behind you then you travel with a distance of 180ft between you and the car in front. This will allow you to bring both vehicles to a stop in the safe distance.

If it is the mere presence that causes you issue then pull over and stop and allow them to go past.

[triple7]

I got a TS10 last year, didn't even know it till I got the letter. Ask for the photo if you like, but it will be just 3 points and £60 fine. My last 2 insurance renewals have not been affected, my premiums keep going down.

G

[nightmare]

Sparks,

Whilst i agree with all the above from DVD and Gemini, I see absolutely no harm in writing a letter to explain the situation as it stands. If you did decide to go to court it would be seen by the mags you immediately sought to apologise/explain yourself and it may help it from getting to court (unlikely i know)

gave this advice to a friend recently who did exactly that and the matter WAS then dropped (was Farnborough)

Night