First speeding ticket in 35 years!!

[rs1952]

First of all, apologies for being "off air" for the last 5 months - the wife cleared off after 24 years and I've had a lot of sorting out to do!

Now, down to business. Yesterday the postman brought my first ever NIP in 35 years of driving. A revenue earner clocked me doing 83 on the A48 between the west end of the M4 and Carmarthen. I might like to argue mph (I reckon it was more like 79) but, of course, I doubt if it will do much good. I think the term is "caught bang to rights, guv!!"

However, my gripe is that this was on a Saturday morning, on a dual carriageway, in light traffic, in perfect visbility, no pedestrians or obstacles (other than other vehicles) for miles around -

And at the bottom of a hill .....

This seems to me to be a most blatant case of revenue earning, and I intend to make a fuss about it (ie. letters to my MP, the local MP for the area, the Minister of Transport, the "safety" unit in question, the local papers, the Chief Constable). In short, I intend to make sure that it costs the barstewards more in admin costs answering my letters than they're going to get out of me from the fine.

My question is, is it better to leave the "gobbing off" until after the matter has been resolved and the fine paid, or is it safe to "loud mouth" it to these august bodies beforehand?

Ideas and comments please.

[mike buley]

If you have a valid cause, then 'gob off' as much as possible, it isnt going to harm.
Personally I reckon it is better to do so before, rather than after, nothing can be done once the matter has been legally sorted. Mind you, you can appeal.

[SpudGunner]

Trouble is whether it was 79 mph or higher you were still exceeding the limits, so I dont really see how you can argue with it.

Unless there was a huge tail wind that was causing you to go so quick

[DennisTheMenace]

Going down hills even if you take the lead boot off the throttle the car will still speed up example A35 near holywell on the A35 hills dropping down either side towards the junctions and plod shove a mobile scamera there , so what do you do keep an eye on your speedo so you dont speed and end up paying £60 to fill a fuel tank on a plod car or watch the road for on coming hazzards???

>> Edited by DennisTheMenace on Saturday 12th April 22:07

[outlaw]

First of all, apologies for being "off air" for the last 5 months - the wife cleared off after 24 years and I've had a lot of sorting out to do!

Now, down to business. Yesterday the postman brought my first ever NIP in 35 years of driving. A revenue earner clocked me doing 83 on the A48 between the west end of the M4 and Carmarthen. I might like to argue mph (I reckon it was more like 79) but, of course, I doubt if it will do much good. I think the term is "caught bang to rights, guv!!"

However, my gripe is that this was on a Saturday morning, on a dual carriageway, in light traffic, in perfect visbility, no pedestrians or obstacles (other than other vehicles) for miles around -

And at the bottom of a hill .....

This seems to me to be a most blatant case of revenue earning, and I intend to make a fuss about it (ie. letters to my MP, the local MP for the area, the Minister of Transport, the "safety" unit in question, the local papers, the Chief Constable). In short, I intend to make sure that it costs the barstewards more in admin costs answering my letters than they're going to get out of me from the fine.

My question is, is it better to leave the "gobbing off" until after the matter has been resolved and the fine paid, or is it safe to "loud mouth" it to these august bodies beforehand?

Ideas and comments please.

dont sign that form LoL

[dazren]

Welcome to the New Labian Utopian Society. Thou shall not break arbitrary speed limits; Know your place, lose your job, lose your home, do no work, scrounge off the state you speeding infidel!!!!!

Nuff said, don't want to get political or anything, looks like 3 points and a £60. The law is being enforced by the letter rather than by the spirit, this country's fcuked but whats new.

DAZ

[sovietjamaican]

DennisTheMenace said: Going down hills even if you take the lead boot off the throttle the car will still speed up example A35 near holywell on the A35 hills dropping down either side towards the junctions and plod shove a mobile scamera there , so what do you do keep an eye on your speedo so you dont speed and end up paying £60 to fill a fuel tank on a plod car or watch the road for on coming hazzards???

If you don't want to speed, you can gear down and make use of engine (compression) braking. That being said, the classic bottom-of-a-long-hill speed trap is a blatant, vicious form of revenue collection because it may target even those who have no intention to speed (imho).

[james_j]

If you want to minimise the chances of getting fined (taxed), then, sadly, you're less likely to get caught exceeding the (low) limits by doing it during busy periods, where you will be hidden amongst other traffic.

Nice clear roads, watch out! That's their opportunity to get you!

[hertsbiker]

James_J : got it in one. How sad, that the "safety" angle works against them. I always found that dicing the traffic up on the bike made it impossible for a speed camera to work. The radar shadow of a large vehicle neutralises the shockwave from a smaller one, so the closer you get, the less likely to fire. Also the plate will be obscured. Crazy huh? yet an empty road where is it SAFE to make progress is far more likely to earn you a nicking.

Sad world.

[ultimasimon]

Just a thought..the term revenue camera - If the cameras are NOT about collecting money, just promoting "safer" driving, then why don't people just push the case and only get points instead of points AND a fine?

[deltaf]

Cos theres no profit in points?

[chrisgr31]

Well I think when you start your campaign against the camera depends on whether you accept you were speeding, and whether you have the choice to have 3 points and a £60 fine.

Being a cynic I suspect that if one compalins a lot, writes to all and sundry before going to court, the punishment woud be far greater.

Therefore if you are going to sign the form and accept the punishment then I think you can start your campaign, if you aren't going to sign the form, or are being taken to court I'd start the campaign a bit later!

[Don]

The fact of the matter is that you were caught speeding. Complaining about it to the authorities is just going to sound like sour grapes.

I'm sorry to say that your post does indeed make it sound like that. I got caught by the North Wales Police too - just accept it. You broke the speed limit and just got what you knew was coming to you if you were caught. If you complain - they will simply ignore you.

Now - if you genuinely want to object to the current focus on speed as a panacea to road safety - then get involved with road safety organisations and start trying to change attitudes from the inside. Join the IAM, pass the test and start lobbying for safer driving not slower driving.

Join the ABD (www.abd.org.uk) and get advice on how to lobby for the removal of dumb limits, idiotic traffic calming and the deliberate design of dangerous roads.

"I got caught and I don't like it" isn't going to change anything.

By the way - I don't mean the above to sound rude or unsympathetic - I got my points on a dry clear day in good conditions too - and I wasn't happy about it either!

[tonybav]

First thing to do rs is read all the threads on here about completing but not signing the NIP.

[outlaw]

Don said: The fact of the matter is that you were caught speeding. Complaining about it to the authorities is just going to sound like sour grapes.

I'm sorry to say that your post does indeed make it sound like that. I got caught by the North Wales Police too - just accept it. You broke the speed limit and just got what you knew was coming to you if you were caught. If you complain - they will simply ignore you.

Now - if you genuinely want to object to the current focus on speed as a panacea to road safety - then get involved with road safety organisations and start trying to change attitudes from the inside. Join the IAM, pass the test and start lobbying for safer driving not slower driving.

Join the ABD (www.abd.org.uk) and get advice on how to lobby for the removal of dumb limits, idiotic traffic calming and the deliberate design of dangerous roads.

"I got caught and I don't like it" isn't going to change anything.

By the way - I don't mean the above to sound rude or unsympathetic - I got my points on a dry clear day in good conditions too - and I wasn't happy about it either!

faling that here all way the tyer and unleaded option lol
If every one in a 100 that got a nip touched one cam problem would be sovled

no more tax cam

[rs1952]

Don said: The fact of the matter is that you were caught speeding. Complaining about it to the authorities is just going to sound like sour grapes.

I'm sorry to say that your post does indeed make it sound like that. I got caught by the North Wales Police too - just accept it. You broke the speed limit and just got what you knew was coming to you if you were caught. If you complain - they will simply ignore you.

Now - if you genuinely want to object to the current focus on speed as a panacea to road safety - then get involved with road safety organisations and start trying to change attitudes from the inside. Join the IAM, pass the test and start lobbying for safer driving not slower driving.

Join the ABD (www.abd.org.uk) and get advice on how to lobby for the removal of dumb limits, idiotic traffic calming and the deliberate design of dangerous roads.

"I got caught and I don't like it" isn't going to change anything.

By the way - I don't mean the above to sound rude or unsympathetic - I got my points on a dry clear day in good conditions too - and I wasn't happy about it either!

I accept what you have to say Don, but .....

Lets talk practicalities here. Whilst yes, I agree with you that joining an organisation that fights against this new manifestation of the Highwayman is a good thing, such pressure groups are far easier to ignore than the persistent individual because, in truth, they don't put any true pressure on the people who administer these schemes around the country.

If everybody who got an NIP got "mouthy" to the authorities and demanded answers to specific questions (and used the lack of a response to such questions as a reason/ mitigating circumstance for not adhering to the deadlines imposed by the authorities) the whole system would grind to a halt. If only 10% of NIP notifications resulted in a flurry of correspondence to the "safety" unit in question, the local plod, the local papers, the local MP etc, the system would be put under considerable pressure and would begin to break down.

I have used this tactic in the past (and I know that others have too - I was trying to find a previous post I made on the subject but can't find the bl dy thing!! - in September or so last year) and I can confirm that it works - I once avoided a fixed penalty ticket when I was pulled up because my car tax was 10 days out of date by using it.

As I have said earlier, whilst the organisations who fight against these things are useful tools, don't forget the power of the individual in these cases - remember what happened to the Poll Tax!!

[jmorgan]

Can't help much but thats a regular revenue earner spot. Also a few dark blue Volvo's I have seen in the area that have extra blue flashing lights fitted.

[HarryW]

FFS 83, there for the grace............I've always considered 80/85 to be good cruising speed, perhaps I'd better change my ways , as I will be caught if this becomes standard practice ;rolleyes:.

I have manged so far, 20 years not quiet 35 though , not to though. Through, I like to think, good observational skills .
When I do get caught though the 'not signing the nip' seems the way to go, if you can't win at least grind the ba***rds/system down .

Harry