Oh No - I am in trouble

[Candybeatdiscos]

I was caught doing 51 in a 30 zone last night (I was 20 yards away from a 40 zone), Although i cannot defend it and i am ashamed - i had a momentry lapse in concentration. I have had my license for 12 years was caught speeding in first year of license and recieved 3 points and £60 fine, apart from that I have been careful not to speed, this was obviously a one off - however I had only started a job as a taxi driver last week, so what liable to happen to me? They never gave me a ticket - instead a verbal NIP (Notice of intended proceedings)

I was stopped by police who were hiding behind a wall with one of those speed guns, I did say that I didn't relaise that I was speeding but they were on a power trip at the time, unfortuantly they were traffic police so i guess I couldn't argue with them. The fact that they never showed me the result on the gun - could that go for me?

[Vectis]

I was caught doing 51 in a 30 zone last night (I was 20 yards away from a 40 zone), Although i cannot defend it and i am ashamed - i had a momentry lapse in concentration. I have had my license for 12 years was caught speeding in first year of license and recieved 3 points and £60 fine, apart from that I have been careful not to speed, this was obviously a one off - however I had only started a job as a taxi driver last week, so what liable to happen to me? They never gave me a ticket - instead a verbal NIP (Notice of intended proceedings)

I was stopped by police who were hiding behind a wall with one of those speed guns, I did say that I didn't relaise that I was speeding but they were on a power trip at the time, unfortuantly they were traffic police so i guess I couldn't argue with them. The fact that they never showed me the result on the gun - could that go for me?


Tut, Tut!

Whilst I can't condone speeding, do some research (http://www.pepipoo.com/) to ensure the officers followed correct procedure.

[yourdj]

I got done the other day (50 in a temporary 30). nothing through the post, but these things do happen.

Not good though if your job depends on it though?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You can go on a speed awareness course and not get the 3 points on your licence.

I did one earlier this year and it was slightly more than the fine would have been. They normally send you a form asking you to apply for it first though.

[Candybeatdiscos]

what were you caught doing Daz?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

what were you caught doing Daz?

35 in a 30. The road had been a 40 for as long as I can remember and they changed it to a 30 and I didn't know.

The worst thing was, it happened two weeks running.

First week, 35mph and second week 36mph...., so I've still got 3 points as you can only do one speed awareness course.

Annoyed wasn't the word, as I do stick to the speed limit generally.

[Dragonfly]

as far as i'm aware?? and it is just something i have been told when you are stopped with a policeman with a radar gun they are supposed to be fully visible ie. not hiding behind walls ..... in a yellow jacket and in FULL uniform that means hat also??

maybe worth checking this out and seeing if there is any weight behind it as it could give you just a sliver of a defence???

[DJWilson]

as far as i'm aware?? and it is just something i have been told when you are stopped with a policeman with a radar gun they are supposed to be fully visible ie. not hiding behind walls ..... in a yellow jacket and in FULL uniform that means hat also??

maybe worth checking this out and seeing if there is any weight behind it as it could give you just a sliver of a defence???



I got told that they cant arrest you if they dont have there hat on or other uniform items

[Penfold42]

You can go on a speed awareness course and not get the 3 points on your licence.

I did one earlier this year and it was slightly more than the fine would have been. They normally send you a form asking you to apply for it first though.
I've got one coming up......£60 for the privilege as well.....still rather that then the points.....:)


as far as i'm aware?? and it is just something i have been told when you are stopped with a policeman with a radar gun they are supposed to be fully visible ie. not hiding behind walls ..... in a yellow jacket and in FULL uniform that means hat also??

maybe worth checking this out and seeing if there is any weight behind it as it could give you just a sliver of a defence???
You have to be really careful when doing this....if you start asking questions you may, depending on the plod and what kind of day he's had, be subject to a right going over on the motor car you are travelling in.....4 bald tyres will cost you 3 points per tyre.....instant ban!

Plod also has to be in 2/10th's of a mile to zap you....IE - when you see 30mph sign he has to go back 2/10th's of a mile....he also has to check all the building around him for reflection........BEFORE he can use the gun.....:)

[discomobiledj]

I got a ticket the other day, parked behind a station waiting for my other half and didn't see the mobile Smart car CCTV camera come round the corner, only clocked me for two minutes being there, although I read that they have to see me for 5 minutes before they can give me a ticket.

Can anyone shed any light on this? And she were parked on a double yellow reading newspaper!

[Danno13]

If you get an NIP it takes ages for the court summons to come through. I got caught in May 2006, and the summons didn't come until September, for court in October.

You won't officially have any points until you go through court anyway, so I wouldn't have thought you have to declare anything for your job.

[djgordyp]

I was caught doing 51 in a 30 zone last night (I was 20 yards away from a 40 zone), Although i cannot defend it and i am ashamed - i had a momentry lapse in concentration. I have had my license for 12 years was caught speeding in first year of license and recieved 3 points and £60 fine, apart from that I have been careful not to speed, this was obviously a one off - however I had only started a job as a taxi driver last week, so what liable to happen to me? They never gave me a ticket - instead a verbal NIP (Notice of intended proceedings)

I was stopped by police who were hiding behind a wall with one of those speed guns, I did say that I didn't relaise that I was speeding but they were on a power trip at the time, unfortuantly they were traffic police so i guess I couldn't argue with them. The fact that they never showed me the result on the gun - could that go for me?

Hi. Did a bit of searching and found this
Speed Trap Guns
Speed trap guns have to be correctly calibrated so you can ask the Officer or civilian operating the gun to see the calibration certificate. Many radar guns are only accurate within a 100 metre range and so if you were further away than this you may be able to challenge the speeding prosecution.
I was actually searcing for the name of the solicitor who has a nearly 100% record at defending speeding tickets. Problem is I can't even remember where I first heard of him.

I would have thought the fact you weren't shown the readout would help your case.

Also found this which might help. http://www.pepipoo.com/

[PropellerHeadCase]

Whilst I can't condone speeding, do some research (http://www.pepipoo.com/) to ensure the officers followed correct procedure.


Also found this which might help. http://www.pepipoo.com/

Apparently that's the site to check, then.

[Penfold42]

:lol:...:D

[djgordyp]

oops :Embarassed: You know what they say.....Great minds think alike :D :D :D

[BeerFunk]

Admittedly, I'd be slightly annoyed if I was fined or penalised for doing 35 in a 30 zone, as in Darren's case. In saying that, the speedometer in cars tend to show an exaggerated speed - so if it displayed 37 you might only be doing 35. I am surprised there wasn't a bit of leeway though, if the limit had been changed in that area recently.

But really, in the majority of cases, isn't it best to accept that you are in the wrong, and that you deserve to be fined or penalised? There are reasons for speed limits being there, and who would want to live with being a killer, if a child were to run or cycle out onto the road in front of you?

It is frustrating though, I've never had a speeding fine but I've had parking tickets which I thought were harsh - but I accepted that they were merited and paid up :(

[rob1963]

There are reasons for speed limits being there, and who would want to live with being a killer, if a child were to run or cycle out onto the road in front of you?

It might just be me, but that comes over as very patronising.

[BeerFunk]

It might just be me, but that comes over as very patronising.Why? Patronising to whom? Don't you think some drivers are completely unaware of how dangerous it can be, to just do an extra 10mph? Isn't it a valid point?

Thankfully, the majority of drivers on the road are sensible and careful, even if they do breach the speed limit now and again. And let's be honest, who sticks to exactly 30mph anyway? Hardly anyone, including myself if I'm being honest - but only where the road is wide and open.

I didn't mean it to sound patronising, but incidents like that do happen, and it can be anyone behind the wheel - not just 17 year old boy racers.

[Candybeatdiscos]

the road i was caught on was what we call the back road, its a quiet countryish type road, unfortuantly you need to go through a built up area in order to access it, i was about 20 meters away from the sign, although i know i was in the wrong, and will accept any punishment, but if i could perhaps find a way to limit the punishment it would be great - hence why i hope to get the speed awareness course option

[Sam]

It might just be me, but that comes over as very patronising.

No it doesn't.

51 in a 30 zone is just plain stupid.. whether you knew you were doing it or not. Just take what punishment is coming to you.
I can't stand it when people try to get out of a speeding fine by finding loop holes. Yes- it is fine when going 35 in a 30.. But 51??

It is 30 for a reason. :mad:
And speed is what killed one of my mates. Who was hit by a speeding car in a 30 limit :(

[HAGGIS]

Was it fife police i got done the Thornton bypass at 110 on my bike. they are very hot up there

[Marc J]

It's been a while since I was caught speeding, funny you mention doing 51 in a 30 as I actually got accused of doing exactly that - it was eventually thrown out of court :)

Basically, I was in a 60 zone going into a 30 when a car overtook me and jumped back onto the left very quickly as a left hand bend was approaching (which is where the limit changed to 30). Just around the bend were two traffic cops with a radar gun who duly clocked the guy in front of me. They signalled to him to pull over and, to my surprise, they also asked me to pull over.

I waited for 5 minutes as they dealt with him, and then they came to me.

Officer: Do you know what speed you were doing?
Me: No, what speed was I doing?
Officer: Well, we clocked him at 51 (showing me the speed on the gun).
Me: But what speed was I doing?
Officer: You were behind him.
Me: So were a lot of other cars, but you haven't stopped them.
Officer: But you were doing the same speed as him.
Me: No I wasn't.
Officer: Are you calling me a liar?
Me: No, I'm saying you're mistaken.
Officer: Don't get smart, sonny (I was 22 at the time), or we'll throw the book at you.
Me: What exactly does that mean?
Officer: We'll give your car a thorough checking, and issue you with a Fixed Penalty Notice (strange, because for 51 this shouldn't have been the case - at that time anything over 50 in a 30 zone went to court).
Me: Feel free to check the car, and I'm not accepting the FPN so will see you in court.

At which point he called his buddy over and went over the car (finding nothing wrong at all).

So, I got a letter and went to court. The 2 traffic cops went through their usual speech (over 50 years combined traffic cop experience, calibrated the gun that morning, blah blah blah) and that they pulled me over for doing 51 in a 30 zone. NO MENTION of the car they actually clocked. It wasn't until my solicitor mentioned it (I had taken a note of the make, model and registration) that they said "oh, that, erm..... yes we clocked him at 51."

They were then reminded that there was no way they could possibly have clocked me with the gun, and asked how they determined I was doing the same speed, they said they had determined it visually in that I wasn't losing any ground to the car they clocked at 51.

My solicitor reminded them that to make a time/distance calculation without a radar gun would require them observing me for a distance of at least 200 metres, whereas they had actually onle observed me for, at the very most, the length of the courtroom (and it was a very small courtroom!).

At this point the judge / head honcho / sherriff / whoever said that he would have to go and read up the law books on this, and shuffled away into his back room. 15 minutes later he came back - "Everything I have read relates to the vehicle the radar gun is pointed at, with no mention of anything behind, beside, or anywhere else in relation to it. You're free to go". :D

Result! Anyway, slightly different to your case in that you were actually doing 51 but I think you may have something in that they didn't show you the gun, and they were hiding.

Just thought I'd share my story as it proves that you can stand up against these power-trip bullies :p Needless to say I sold my car after the case as there were now 2 local traffic cops who I had made to look really silly :eek:

[rob1963]

No it doesn't.

That's why I said "it might just be me"

:)

[BeerFunk]

Just thought I'd share my story as it proves that you can stand up against these power-trip bullies :pYeah you do get some officers who are like that, but I find they're in the minority. The way you've phrased that, it implies that all police officers are 'power-trip bullies', when that really isn't the case.

That's why I said "it might just be me"

:)I thought you might have elaborated on your statement, as I really don't know why you posted that.

[Candybeatdiscos]

I didn't think i was doing 51, yes I agree i was problebly over the 30 mark, as i was getting ready to enter the 40 zone, i would assume i was more likely 38/39 but the fact they never showed me my speed seems sussed to me as i have read they should always show this to you, if it was 38/39 then it should have been a fixed penelty which i would have accepeted, too be honest, i am crapping myself as prospect of having to go to court - i have never had to do so before, and as they are saying its 21 MPH over the limit (21+ means court, anything below means FPN) I would need to attend.

This means probalbly getting 6 points which will affect my next application for hackney in 12 months time, and also as i am in first year of hackney it may possibly get taken off me. This is my only job which i am doing in order to raise funds to get back into DJ'ing again

[rob1963]

Can't you say the ant was driving?

[Marc J]

Yeah you do get some officers who are like that, but I find they're in the minority. The way you've phrased that, it implies that all police officers are 'power-trip bullies', when that really isn't the case.

Of course, that's not what I meant ;)

[Candybeatdiscos]

Can't you say the ant was driving?

Rob you have hit it on the head mate....ok folks case closed lol :)

[rob1963]

Rob you have hit it on the head mate....ok folks case closed lol :)

:D :D :D

[BeerFunk]

It might just be me, but that comes over as very patronising.Steering clear of an explanation for that comment, Rob? :confused:

[Sam]

Steering clear of an explanation for that comment, Rob? :confused:

I was thinking the same thing :o

[Candybeatdiscos]

I was thinking the same thing :o

He answered it in post 23 sam!!!!

[Sam]

No he didn't..

[Candybeatdiscos]

yes he did - hence the reason he said it may only be him....

[PropellerHeadCase]

Can't you say the ant was driving?

Sadly, no, it's a ped-ant :coat:

[Shaun]

Ouch, sorry to hear that, Garry. I hope it all works out well for you.

[djgordyp]

Reading up on these latest post I suddenly remembered something which at the time I thought was ridiculous, and still do. It was about a couple of years ago me and the other half were out for a drive. We were just on the outskirts of a village, in a 40 zone when a police man stepped out and signalled me to stop. The officer who was holding the radar came over to tell me they had observed me going over the speed limit. Bear in mind this is a 40 zone. Can anyone guess what speed they clocked me at?
No!











































They stopped me for doing 41 mph. I felt like laughing and arguing with the officer but thought better of it. Naturally they coudln't do anything about it but how many cars could they have stopped for really speeding in the time they were talking to me. I wonder if that had gone to court, what the judge would have made of it. He'd probably have a good laugh at it too. My speedo was most likely reading 40.

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

If i remember correctly there is a 10% leeway before they can do anything if your caught speeding (all they can do is have a chat to you, no fines, no points:).)

For example if you were in a 50mph zone they can't do anything until you go over 55mph. My old driving instructor told me this who knew everything about traffic law. apparently not many people commonly know this.

I know it doesnt help in your cause but thought it maybe useful anyway.:D