Let off at allegedly 95MPH??
Discussion
Just looking for some other peoples experiances.
On Sunday I was driving north on the A1, cruising generaly at 75-80, I moved out (dual carridgeway) to pass a Merc, as soon as I got along side this guy, he sped up, I continued to try and pass, only at the last minute spot a traffic car in the layby ahead, both the Merc and I hit the brakes and slowed to 70 and I slotted back in behind him (as I should have when I realised he wasn't for passing).
The traffic car then pulled out and promptly pulled me over.
In the car the officer asked me why I thought I had been pulled, which I answered (going too fast) then asked what speed I thought I was going, I explained about the Merc, and I was passing etc, I guessed about 85, and the officer then said I was doing 95 (impressive since I was driving a 1.8 petrol Freelander! and I have never seen more than 90 without a struggle)
My Dad who was following me reckoned his GPS speedo was reading closer to 85.
The officer then started to write out a ticket informing me that it couldn't be a fixed penalty for that speed, and I was looking at a court appearance, but as soon as he got my name down, he got a radio call for an accident.
I was told it was my lucky day and he wrote 'called' over the front of the ticket, and then left at high speed (in reverse).
My only worry now, is that with having experiance (not personally) of some police, where they tell you not to worry, only to then send a letter a couple of weeks later which is very much a worry, I'm not sure how much to feel relieved or not.
Since the officer was on his own in the car, I am assuming there was video footage of me, or some other recording device.
Am I right to be worried, or have I been let off with something that I really should have got into some serious trouble over? Has anyone else ever had a simillar experiance?
On Sunday I was driving north on the A1, cruising generaly at 75-80, I moved out (dual carridgeway) to pass a Merc, as soon as I got along side this guy, he sped up, I continued to try and pass, only at the last minute spot a traffic car in the layby ahead, both the Merc and I hit the brakes and slowed to 70 and I slotted back in behind him (as I should have when I realised he wasn't for passing).
The traffic car then pulled out and promptly pulled me over.
In the car the officer asked me why I thought I had been pulled, which I answered (going too fast) then asked what speed I thought I was going, I explained about the Merc, and I was passing etc, I guessed about 85, and the officer then said I was doing 95 (impressive since I was driving a 1.8 petrol Freelander! and I have never seen more than 90 without a struggle)
My Dad who was following me reckoned his GPS speedo was reading closer to 85.
The officer then started to write out a ticket informing me that it couldn't be a fixed penalty for that speed, and I was looking at a court appearance, but as soon as he got my name down, he got a radio call for an accident.
I was told it was my lucky day and he wrote 'called' over the front of the ticket, and then left at high speed (in reverse).
My only worry now, is that with having experiance (not personally) of some police, where they tell you not to worry, only to then send a letter a couple of weeks later which is very much a worry, I'm not sure how much to feel relieved or not.
Since the officer was on his own in the car, I am assuming there was video footage of me, or some other recording device.
Am I right to be worried, or have I been let off with something that I really should have got into some serious trouble over? Has anyone else ever had a simillar experiance?
Technically all it needs to convict is the opinion of excess speed by the police officer, corroborated with a speedo.
95 could have been his guess. 95 is also to highest speed he could write you out a ticket for a fixed penalty for without having to attend court.
Coincidentally, if you accept the fixed penalty then the officer needs no evidence whatsoever since you have just pretty much accepted your 'crime'.
I have been in a similar situation where I was pulled over. I excercised my right not to incriminate myself, and although I could have been doing more than 70, I quite truthfully said that my eyes were not on my speedo, they were watching the road when I was asked my speed.
The officer reviewed the video evidence to find that there was no conclusive proof that I was speeding then spent about ten minutes with a few different lines of questioning all of which aimed around getting me to admit to my 'crime' and that I am a bad person and he 'hates people like me' who dont own up, and he 'could not understand me'.
I stood my ground, took another few minutes of ear bashing and was on my way with a producer.
The other possibility is that it was just a producer and you would be told that this was your lucky day and he would let you off with a warning, which to be frank would save him some paperwork and would have exactly the same desired effect and possibly impove your views about policing!
95 could have been his guess. 95 is also to highest speed he could write you out a ticket for a fixed penalty for without having to attend court.
Coincidentally, if you accept the fixed penalty then the officer needs no evidence whatsoever since you have just pretty much accepted your 'crime'.
I have been in a similar situation where I was pulled over. I excercised my right not to incriminate myself, and although I could have been doing more than 70, I quite truthfully said that my eyes were not on my speedo, they were watching the road when I was asked my speed.
The officer reviewed the video evidence to find that there was no conclusive proof that I was speeding then spent about ten minutes with a few different lines of questioning all of which aimed around getting me to admit to my 'crime' and that I am a bad person and he 'hates people like me' who dont own up, and he 'could not understand me'.
I stood my ground, took another few minutes of ear bashing and was on my way with a producer.
The other possibility is that it was just a producer and you would be told that this was your lucky day and he would let you off with a warning, which to be frank would save him some paperwork and would have exactly the same desired effect and possibly impove your views about policing!
justinp1 said:
The other possibility is that it was just a producer and you would be told that this was your lucky day and he would let you off with a warning, which to be frank would save him some paperwork and would have exactly the same desired effect and possibly impove your views about policing!
Actually I don't have bad views about policing, in truth I was caught fair and square by a decent officer who did his job, and I was ready to admit I was speeding, I would probably have contested the speed he claimed (due to the car, and my estimated speed, like you I was paying attention to the car I was passing and the road, not my speedo) but in my eyes I was caught and should have had a penalty.
My worry here is, am I going to hear any more?
His talking too and pulling me over had the desired effect on both me and my Dad (he was behind and saw it all) as the rest of the journey was a little calmer and not such a rush.
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