Opinions sought on a serious speeding offence
Discussion
A good acquaintance of mine goes to court on Friday for what can only be described as a ‘Big One’
The offence was averaging about 140 mph over an 8 mile stretch of dual carriage way leaving a police car in his wake.
He already has 6 points I think but my question is this, I think he could get a custodial sentence given the magnitude of the offence?
Your best guesses please
The offence was averaging about 140 mph over an 8 mile stretch of dual carriage way leaving a police car in his wake.
He already has 6 points I think but my question is this, I think he could get a custodial sentence given the magnitude of the offence?
Your best guesses please
Sadly, in the current environment I think you may be right. A lengthy ban is, I would think, a given. It's sad that your friend will most likely be punished more severely than if he had assaulted someone without provocation, or snatched a bag etc. Another case of punishment for what might have happened, rather than what did - a victimless crime.
All your friend can do is play it humble and plead exceptional hardship if a custodial sentence or even a ban is imposed. Scary days we live in
All your friend can do is play it humble and plead exceptional hardship if a custodial sentence or even a ban is imposed. Scary days we live in
Starting point for lots of excess speed is 6pts or 56days, together with a level 3 fine and the option of some community rehabilitation. I don't think custodial is usually an option. Dangerous driving is more likely to attract a custodial.
Level of penalty will depend on the circumstances (dark? wet? busy? etc) and his circumstnaces (done it before...). The fact that plod was left behind is not a good sign - might suggest was too fast fro them to safely pursue. Might also imply a disregard for the fine upholders of the law.
If its just a speeding charge then he should expect both barrels:- £1k fine + lengthy disqual + extended retest. Might get a discount for guilty plea. If he does get this then he might consider it getting away with it, as an alternative to time for DD.
All just my opinion.
Level of penalty will depend on the circumstances (dark? wet? busy? etc) and his circumstnaces (done it before...). The fact that plod was left behind is not a good sign - might suggest was too fast fro them to safely pursue. Might also imply a disregard for the fine upholders of the law.
If its just a speeding charge then he should expect both barrels:- £1k fine + lengthy disqual + extended retest. Might get a discount for guilty plea. If he does get this then he might consider it getting away with it, as an alternative to time for DD.
All just my opinion.
he sounds like my kind of guy 
avrging 140mph over 8 miles is lunacy, idiotic and point less.
How did he get caught if the plod were left behind.
He deserves everything he gets to be true mate.
i got 3 points for being 3 psi low on a rear tyre and £190 fine thats with pleading guilty.
140mph over 8 miles!
Good driving skills or good luck?
i think good luck more then anything!
How did he get caught if the plod were left behind.
He deserves everything he gets to be true mate.
i got 3 points for being 3 psi low on a rear tyre and £190 fine thats with pleading guilty.
140mph over 8 miles!
Good driving skills or good luck?
i think good luck more then anything!
ya55erm said:
He deserves everything he gets to be true mate.
Is that so? Then pray tell us, oh guru, what were the traffic conditions? How capable was his car at that speed? How capable was he at that speed? Were his tyre pressures right? Was he the same chap from the police who was doing 157 that time familiarising himself with his car?
Well, let's hear what the convicted dangermeister who drives about with flat/bald tyres has to say.
This guy, from the information given, could be public enemy number 1 or (more likely) an ordinary joe just having a harmless little blast in perfect conditions. You can't make that sort of statement based on what his speedometer said.
SM
>> Edited by supermono on Tuesday 22 November 17:21
ya55erm said:
avrging 140mph over 8 miles is lunacy, idiotic and point less.
How did he get caught if the plod were left behind.
He deserves everything he gets to be true mate.
i got 3 points for being 3 psi low on a rear tyre and £190 fine thats with pleading guilty.
140mph over 8 miles!
Good driving skills or good luck?
i think good luck more then anything!
Bit harsh, cant see how you can say that on the limited info given........
I think a custodial sentance is unlikely, humble pie time, I reckon a 12 month ban and hefty fine
I did a long stint to brighton with nice lengthy blasts upto 125-130 MPH back on Christmas day 2004.
Luckily saw the blues coming from miles behind and tucked into the left lane at a steady 69 mph on the virtually deserted motorway.
Conditions were pretty much perfect. He caught up, followed me but didn't do anything.
Was perfectly safe but happened to be against the law.
Luckily saw the blues coming from miles behind and tucked into the left lane at a steady 69 mph on the virtually deserted motorway.
Conditions were pretty much perfect. He caught up, followed me but didn't do anything.
Was perfectly safe but happened to be against the law.
ya55erm said:
avrging 140mph over 8 miles is lunacy, idiotic and point less.
Why? If it’s dry with good visibility and you’re in a vehicle designed for that sort of speed, there’s no reason not average 140 (apart from the idiots who run this country don’t like it and will try to persecute you for it).
It’s certainly not pointless. As Alan Clark once said: The chief reason for driving fast is that is gets you to your destination more quickly. Perhaps he was in a hurry.
I’ve certainly averaged that sort of speed or more at night on empty roads (not in the UK or course) and I don’t consider myself a lunatic or idiot.
The only thing that poor guy did wrong was to get caught.
If he was on a bike that might explain why he left them in his wake. The other thing is 140mph on a decent bike is no great shakes really. You wouldn't even have to tuck in at that speed. But I will say that if I managed to average 140mph in the Cerbera over 8 miles, It would have needed alot more concentration than on a bike.
Was it a bike or a car BTW?
Was it a bike or a car BTW?
Apologies if my first post was a bit scant on information, funnily enough I was having a new car delivered to the office and was cut short, it had been way to long, i was like a small child on Christmas morning!
The offence was committed some time during the later part of the summer on a sunny Saturday evening along the A14. For his sins he was at the wheel of a Boxster S and is of proper means so pleading poverty is not an option.
He’s a company director and employs quite a few people for what its worth. I’m not sure if he has any serious offences on his record but has the standard issue 6 points of the Piggybanks.
I gather the police got their first speed reading off him whilst sat up on a bridge over the A14 and gave chase. I think they radioed ahead as it would have become apparent the patrol car hadn’t got a cats chance and he wasn’t slowing down despite having seen the blue lights. I think he came across the next patrol car where he was forced to pull over short of sneaking off at the next junction.
I will get a few more details if I can but despite being a damn fast driver to the very best of my knowledge he’s never been in a proper accident or had any serious convictions.
The stretch of road in question is great for a sunny saturday evening blast, loads of visibilty, open and no junctions, an absolute jem for Hoon. Back in September I was told soembody witnessed the speed limiter on an M3 CSL is indeed 155 and that a 993 does'nt have one. Aparently !!!
I’m off the to the blokes engagement party in a couple of weeks and was rather hoping we weren’t going to have to run up to HMP Norwich, mind you there is a lovely view of the football ground from D wing so i'm told.
None the less it looks like he’s going to be in the passenger seat all weekend for the Le Mans Hoonathon!
PS The new Rangie Vogue SE and is bloody fantastic and has just replaced the sadly departed Amazon, no danger of doing 140 in her being a diesel
The offence was committed some time during the later part of the summer on a sunny Saturday evening along the A14. For his sins he was at the wheel of a Boxster S and is of proper means so pleading poverty is not an option.
He’s a company director and employs quite a few people for what its worth. I’m not sure if he has any serious offences on his record but has the standard issue 6 points of the Piggybanks.
I gather the police got their first speed reading off him whilst sat up on a bridge over the A14 and gave chase. I think they radioed ahead as it would have become apparent the patrol car hadn’t got a cats chance and he wasn’t slowing down despite having seen the blue lights. I think he came across the next patrol car where he was forced to pull over short of sneaking off at the next junction.
I will get a few more details if I can but despite being a damn fast driver to the very best of my knowledge he’s never been in a proper accident or had any serious convictions.
The stretch of road in question is great for a sunny saturday evening blast, loads of visibilty, open and no junctions, an absolute jem for Hoon. Back in September I was told soembody witnessed the speed limiter on an M3 CSL is indeed 155 and that a 993 does'nt have one. Aparently !!!
I’m off the to the blokes engagement party in a couple of weeks and was rather hoping we weren’t going to have to run up to HMP Norwich, mind you there is a lovely view of the football ground from D wing so i'm told.
None the less it looks like he’s going to be in the passenger seat all weekend for the Le Mans Hoonathon!
PS The new Rangie Vogue SE and is bloody fantastic and has just replaced the sadly departed Amazon, no danger of doing 140 in her being a diesel
ya55erm said:
avrging 140mph over 8 miles is lunacy, idiotic and point less.
How did he get caught if the plod were left behind.
He deserves everything he gets to be true mate.
i got 3 points for being 3 psi low on a rear tyre and £190 fine thats with pleading guilty.
140mph over 8 miles!
Good driving skills or good luck?
i think good luck more then anything!
Oh dear. So you think driving a dangerous car is safer than driving a safe car fast. Ah well a little knowlege etc. When I crank mine up to serious speeds I check the damn thing is set up to spec.
ing fast, What wherethe top speed he actually reached, and to sustain that speed over 8 miles, 8 whole miles!Only a 4minute blast, in a properly designed sport car capable of 160mph. Road in question is good for stretching the right foot. Observation and alertness is increased when travelling at those speeds, and with good roadcraft i don't see a problem with the speed or duration. His only mistake was to be caught. I'm sure most of us with cars capable of high speed have certainly stretched them now and again (driving on derestricted autobahns that speed is not seen as bad, you just get porkies and derestricted bms and mercs waiting for you to pull in!, on the A1 motorway in italy - well that is something else for speed!)
ya55erm said:
The psi was 3psi below the legal limit.
I dont think everyone actually understands what actually happened, think about this 140 mph over 8 miles ising fast, What wherethe top speed he actually reached, and to sustain that speed over 8 miles, 8 whole miles!
I agree. "popping" over the limit now and then is a done deal for most, but he MUST have put others lives at risk over an 8 mile stretch.
I had the same thing a couple of years ago. Got caught doing an average of 115mph over 11 miles of the M1 by an unmarked Plod.
Went to court, held my hands up, explained that it was 11pm and the roads were empty, the conditions were good (it was a warm and dry night), I'd had the car for a fair while and knew how to handle it at that sort of speed. Also the car was completely roadworthy, in fact when the cops looked at it after pulling me over, they couldn't fault it.
Upshot: £500 fine, 3 month ban, 6 points.
Bad, but it could have been a hell of a lot worse - tell him to get a good solicitor, admit the offence, and cite some grounds for mitigation as I did.
>> Edited by ADDYBOY1982 on Wednesday 23 November 09:38
Went to court, held my hands up, explained that it was 11pm and the roads were empty, the conditions were good (it was a warm and dry night), I'd had the car for a fair while and knew how to handle it at that sort of speed. Also the car was completely roadworthy, in fact when the cops looked at it after pulling me over, they couldn't fault it.
Upshot: £500 fine, 3 month ban, 6 points.
Bad, but it could have been a hell of a lot worse - tell him to get a good solicitor, admit the offence, and cite some grounds for mitigation as I did.
>> Edited by ADDYBOY1982 on Wednesday 23 November 09:38
vario-rob said:
For his sins he was at the wheel of a Boxster S and is of proper means so pleading poverty is not an option.
986 Boxster S top speed is 162mph. I've had 152mph out of mine and it took two miles of steady acceleration at Bruntingthorpe VMAX to do it. Averaging 140 he must have had his foot embedded in the carpet and kept it there - I'm surprised it was possible.
Scary. I have a Boxster S. I'm a Company Director. I'm not admitting on a public forum the top speed I've achieved on a public road - whilst it doesn't compete with a few PHers of my personal acquaintance - it is very high. There but for the Grace of God.
If your pal made a mistake it was failing to notice the blues and twos and not slowing down and pulling over immediately.
Trafpol aren't all bad about this sort of thing. Years ago when I was pulled over in my old 911 I was doing a big speed down the A55 in North Wales (pre Brunstrom). Trafpol pulled me over, showed me the reading at 99.999999 mph and asked if I'd been going that fast. I confessed immediately and gratefully. He then mentioned he'd had to take a reading several times to get one that slow...
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