Court or not?

Author
Discussion

NDA

Original Poster:

22,326 posts

232 months

Wednesday
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Mrs NDA's son has been caught doing 41 in a 20. He'll be banned. I am not sure of the circumstances other than a moment of madness, in a rush etc. There's no need to condemn him on here, it's not the reason for the post.

On the forms he's received - where he'll be pleading guilty - there's the question 'do you wish to attend court?'.

Is there any point? Is there a chance of a lower level of disqualification by either attending or not attending? I have absolutely no idea.

Advice welcome - thanks.

Deviation

42 posts

11 months

Wednesday
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I probably would, just to evidence I’m an adult and face consequences like one smile

Condado

74 posts

49 months

Wednesday
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I am assuming you think he will be banned by totting up ie. His latest speeding offence will take him over the points . Personally I would seek legal advice and see if there are any relevant circumstances which he could put before the court that would mean they would consider not actually disqualifying him from driving.
Failing that he will be summoned to attend court as I believe to be disqualified from driving you actually have to be present before the court. (It may have changed since my day no doubt others will confirm if it is still the case.)

Starfighter

5,070 posts

185 months

Wednesday
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A court will usually require a defendant to attend if they are planning a disqualification. The court disqualification is immediate and has a stated duration. There are no points.

If he is a new driver (<2 years) then it is DVLA that revoke the licence if 6 or more points are accrued. This is separate to the court and can be done by post. It is not a ban as such as the test can be retaken immediately to recover the licence. The recovered licence comes with the points awarded by the court.

NDA

Original Poster:

22,326 posts

232 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Condado said:
I am assuming you think he will be banned by totting up
41 in a 20 is a ban - from what I've read...

Condado

74 posts

49 months

Wednesday
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Missed the 20 in your post… sorry. Looking at guidelines it’s a 7-56 day ban, however disqualification is at the discretion of the court so I would look at getting some legal advice and see what happens.

a340driver

304 posts

162 months

Wednesday
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My dad would've expected me to turn up and I would expect that from my children. However it's not your child. Discussions required I would think.

kestral

1,835 posts

214 months

Wednesday
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Don't go to court to plead guilty.

The Magistrates will not like it one bit.

The courts are very busy places and don't want time wasted.

If they are considering disqualifying they will ask you to attend.


Ezra

629 posts

34 months

Wednesday
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It's almost certain that he will get 6 points, rather than an immediate ban. 41 in a 20 takes him just into the highest points band for speeding so, unless there are additional factors, its quite a straightforward decision by the court. Assuming he currently has a clean licence, he'll not get banned as a consequnce. There is no need to attend, just plead guilty and await the outcome of the (almost certain) single justice procedure.

NDA

Original Poster:

22,326 posts

232 months

Thursday
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OK - thanks everyone, very useful. Much appreciated.

Griffith4ever

4,772 posts

42 months

Thursday
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Other than outside a school, when it's open, what a crazy society we've become where you can be banned for driving at 41 mph.

Simpo Two

87,066 posts

272 months

Thursday
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kestral said:
Don't go to court to plead guilty.

The Magistrates will not like it one bit.

The courts are very busy places and don't want time wasted.
It's an interesting world. I thought they liked it if you pleaded guilty because it saved them time. But maybe I'm thinking of proper courts not kangaroo ones.

Griffith4ever said:
Other than outside a school, when it's open, what a crazy society we've become where you can be banned for driving at 41 mph.
My thought exactly. And that road was probably 30mph until very recently, and 40mph before that. Turkey shoot.


NDA

Original Poster:

22,326 posts

232 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
It's an interesting world. I thought they liked it if you pleaded guilty because it saved them time. But maybe I'm thinking of proper courts not kangaroo ones.
The advice is plead guilty by post or online - not to turn up and plead guilty.

super7

2,037 posts

215 months

Thursday
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NDA said:
Simpo Two said:
It's an interesting world. I thought they liked it if you pleaded guilty because it saved them time. But maybe I'm thinking of proper courts not kangaroo ones.
The advice is plead guilty by post or online - not to turn up and plead guilty.
They're giving you the choice to plead guilty by post, and to stop you turning up at court and wasting their time for what is a trivial issue.....

You'll piss them off even more turning up for that than not pleading guilty and having to turn up by default.

Take the easy option, you'll not get a different outcome.

NDA

Original Poster:

22,326 posts

232 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Yep. That advice has already been given, understood and will be taken.

119

9,554 posts

43 months

Thursday
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Deviation said:
I probably would, just to evidence I’m an adult and face consequences like one smile
This.

All day long.

richhead

1,646 posts

18 months

Thursday
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Ezra said:
It's almost certain that he will get 6 points, rather than an immediate ban. 41 in a 20 takes him just into the highest points band for speeding so, unless there are additional factors, its quite a straightforward decision by the court. Assuming he currently has a clean licence, he'll not get banned as a consequnce. There is no need to attend, just plead guilty and await the outcome of the (almost certain) single justice procedure.
If hes a new driver 6 points will be a ban i think

ScoobyChris

1,809 posts

209 months

Thursday
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richhead said:
If hes a new driver 6 points will be a ban i think
It's not a ban - the licence gets revoked (and you are essentially a provisional driver again) and they need to redo and pass the test(s) to get a new one...

Chris

Simpo Two

87,066 posts

272 months

Thursday
quotequote all
super7 said:
They're giving you the choice to plead guilty by post, and to stop you turning up at court and wasting their time for what is a trivial issue.....

I agree, it's a trivial issue. A driving ban for a trivial issue.
I would hope that judges, magistrates or whatever they are would not allow their erudite decision-making process to be skewed by the degree of pissed-offedness that they happened to be feeling that day.

richhead

1,646 posts

18 months

Thursday
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ScoobyChris said:
richhead said:
If hes a new driver 6 points will be a ban i think
It's not a ban - the licence gets revoked (and you are essentially a provisional driver again) and they need to redo and pass the test(s) to get a new one...

Chris
so a ban then in all but name