It wasn't me!!
Discussion
Got a NIP through the post last week for speeding on the elevated section of the M4 in Chiswick.
It states I was there at 8.30 am on a Saturday and that I should fill in all the details, etc, etc.
One things for sure - I was in bed that morning nursing a particularly bad hangover so it couldn't have been me. Other than ask for a photo is there anything else that I can do to get out of this??
TIA
It states I was there at 8.30 am on a Saturday and that I should fill in all the details, etc, etc.
One things for sure - I was in bed that morning nursing a particularly bad hangover so it couldn't have been me. Other than ask for a photo is there anything else that I can do to get out of this??
TIA
Produce the person who was in bed with you to verify that fact (with photos if possible) 
Seriously if you have an alibi, then you should use it and inform the local Police that your vehicle may well have been cloned.
Other than that, you will have to wait for the next one to arrive as it surely will if someone is using a clone of your number plate. You may be in for a bumpy ride from both sides of this equation.
>> Edited by madcop on Tuesday 9th September 14:53
Seriously if you have an alibi, then you should use it and inform the local Police that your vehicle may well have been cloned.
Other than that, you will have to wait for the next one to arrive as it surely will if someone is using a clone of your number plate. You may be in for a bumpy ride from both sides of this equation.
>> Edited by madcop on Tuesday 9th September 14:53
madcop said:
Produce the person who was in bed with you to verify that fact (with photos if possible)
photos - no
video - possibly....
Would the BiB accept an alibi even though they've got photographic evidence? Thinking lateraly, it seems as though if they do accept this (which I hope they do) it would create another loophole for exploitation.
AC79xxx said:
Produce the person who was in bed with you to verify that fact (with photos if possible)
photos - no
video - possibly....
Would the BiB accept an alibi even though they've got photographic evidence? Thinking lateraly, it seems as though if they do accept this (which I hope they do) it would create another loophole for exploitation.
They might accept an alibi if you could prove it.
Are you sure your car was not being used by someone else at that time, even without your knowledge or consent!
If it turns out that your car number has been cloned, then you need to have something distinctive attached to the back of it like a sticker in the rear window which is unique to your car or a GB sticker on the bumper etc. Obviously not a removable one as that would not be convincing at all.
If you have something that is personal to your car and permanently attached to it, any photo of a cloned car will show that it is not the proper one as this will be missing in the photo which records any offence the cloned one is captured for.
madcop said:
They might accept an alibi if you could prove it.
Other than a written statement from the better half I doubt I can do more than that.
madcop said:
If you have something that is personal to your car and permanently attached to it, any photo of a cloned car will show that it is not the proper one as this will be missing in the photo which records any offence the cloned one is captured for.
I did think of that but would asking for a photo show admission?
Anyway, I s'pose I'll have to suck it and see - thanks for your help
madcop said:
If it turns out that your car number has been cloned, then you need to have something distinctive attached to the back of it like a sticker in the rear window which is unique to your car or a GB sticker on the bumper etc. Obviously not a removable one as that would not be convincing at all.
If you have something that is personal to your car and permanently attached to it, any photo of a cloned car will show that it is not the proper one as this will be missing in the photo which records any offence the cloned one is captured for.
As a matter of interest why should someone whose car as been cloned go to the trouble of fixing something to it, to make it easier to identify? Other than to avoid the hassle of tickets for parking, speeding etc.
Presumably one couldn't be made to have something identifiable fixed to the car?
AC79xxx said:
They might accept an alibi if you could prove it.
Other than a written statement from the better half I doubt I can do more than that.
madcop said:
If you have something that is personal to your car and permanently attached to it, any photo of a cloned car will show that it is not the proper one as this will be missing in the photo which records any offence the cloned one is captured for.
I did think of that but would asking for a photo show admission?
Anyway, I s'pose I'll have to suck it and see - thanks for your help
Presumably it depends what you say in your letter asking for the photo. On the assumption that you weren't driving the car, and no one you know was there is nothing to stop you writing saying "It wasn't my car,I was in bed with x" etc. The police will then need some prove it wasn't you, and the easiest thing is to prove that the car in the photo is different to yours by identifying stickers etc.
Not sure what happens if you can't prove it wasn't you! Mind you wonder how many people go to court and say "Wasn't me", so presumably turning up to say it tends to support your claim.
However as Madcop says if one ticket has turned up more are bound to arrive soon! So best set to work sorting it out!
Not exactly the same circumstances, but my motorbike was cloned in London and when I realised I called the BiB and it transpired that I had allegedly been reported twice for dangerous driving and had 2 counts of fuel theft!
BiB were fine and accepted my story. No real fuss made.
Cloned bike was recovered a week later - which naturally helped!
BiB were fine and accepted my story. No real fuss made.
Cloned bike was recovered a week later - which naturally helped!
AC79xxx said:
After sending a letter requesting a copy of the photograph I received another NIP.
I can see this is going to be a long and tedious affair...
If I send another letter asking for the photo and don't send back the NIP, am I leaving myslef open for prosecution?
You have to persevere write back saying wasnt me, please send photo etc
Mr E said:
and;
c) You were still drunk.
Although they might do you for DD as well then.
Presumably they could also say "how could you be 100% certain it wasnt you if you were drunk at the time and hence not completely in control of your actions - its feasible that you might have gone for a spin and later forgotten"
?
Mad Dave said:
and;
c) You were still drunk.
Although they might do you for DD as well then.
Presumably they could also say "how could you be 100% certain it wasnt you if you were drunk at the time and hence not completely in control of your actions - its feasible that you might have gone for a spin and later forgotten"
?
AC79xxx said:
Other than a written statement from the better half I doubt I can do more than that.
I'm quite sure I remember what I was up to that morning
justme said:
You shouldn't end up in court if you follow the "it wasn't me" story.
Why should you be in court - you just give the list of names you believe is correct.
If the vehicle is cloned, it's up to them to prove you a liar, NOT the other way round.
Sadly this is incorrect. It's what I thought until I had my first brush with the law.
I was at work 80 miles away when a car with my reg was caught. I wrote back to Northants NIP-issuers saying this and we had some discussions. Eventually they said it would have to go to court so the truth could come out.
They charged me with not returning the NIP! Out of my depth, I had to fork out for a solicitor. She managed to persuade the prosecutor to drop the case.
However, she said that if I had been charged with the speeding offence her recommendation would have been to accept it "as they had the photograph" -- even though the photo showed some distinctive marks that weren't on my car. If a solicitor feels there's no hope in such cases, then there probably isn't.
dontlift said:
You have to persevere write back saying wasnt me, please send photo etc
I would also strongly suggest that you send your letter by recorded post - it costs a couple of pounds more, but you then know that it has been received and they can't claim to not have your docs etc.
Peter Ward said:
I was at work 80 miles away when a car with my reg was caught.....-- even though the photo showed some distinctive marks that weren't on my car. If a solicitor feels there's no hope in such cases, then there probably isn't.
You've been had my friend.
You actually paid a solicitor to make you pay a fine for a 'crime' you dindn't even commit?
You're not serious now, are you?
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff