speeding offences
Discussion
I just got a new car this week and have been doing a bit of unnecessary driving over the last few days. As I've been running the car in, I haven't been driving crazy fast, but I've been on roads I'm not that familiar with. Anyway, the upshot is that I've been falshed (by cameras with pink flashes) twice in this last week. I'm worried because I've already got six points because of these cameras, and will obviously be facing a ban. Do the police always fine, and does a flash definately mean you will be contacted by them? Finally, can they actually ban you for these minor offences? (Both were just slightly excedeing 30mph).
Flashes don't always mean a ticket, the camera may not be loaded with film. (I have never seen a "pink" flash though.)
If the cameras were fully active then unfortunately they do not exercise discretion, and you will get a fixed penalty notice. I suspect that cameras in urban areas might be more likely to be regularly serviced - anyone know?.
Its good here innit?
You'll probably not get much sympathy for speeding in a built-up area, and stand by for a lecture from JR.
12 points is twelve points so i would have thought so, but its not likley to be that long i would have thought a month or two maybe? and dont you get a licence back with no points on it...
on the good side if you only end up with 9 i hear your insurance can actually go down as they think you are les of a risk as you need to drive more carefully...
Just to pass on a bit of info, 12 points = a ban(6 months) however, the magistrates can reduce this if it causes unnecesary hardship or they can if they wish not ban you at all, just give you the points. There is an advantage to a ban it does not carry any points so in effect you start from a clean licence. For this to apply you would need to go to court and plead special reasons, so this would mean that your job depends on your licence, no licence, no job = unecesary hardship for your family. but you can only use this once in 3 years, and you do it on oath, so if you are lying it is perjury. But be pepared to produce evidence at court if you plead special reasons.
Thanks for the information JR. It does seem ever so harsh - a six month ban for such petty offences. Do the cameras still use film and therefore, does that mean that you might not get the fine? Only someone told me that they are digital now, and so if they flash, you are definately going to get done. One final question, they used to flash twice, but I was only flashed the once, does this make any difference?
Edited by TVDaz on Sunday 8th April 23:18
They have to flash twice to take two pics this is so if it is contested the speed can be woked out between two points, which is what the calibration marks are for on the road. The flashes are only 1/2 a sec apart though. Certainly where I work the cameras still use film I don't think digital cameras for use in the GATSO cameras have been approved yet. In certain circs I do agree a totting up ban can be OTT, but you have got to agree that if you had 9 pts you would or should be a careful driver. But I suppose it is possible to travel on some roads and get a ban in a matter of hours.
They do indeed, 14 days, but that is to serve an NIP (notice of intended prosecution). That has to be served on the last registered keeper, not the offender, so if you have a Co car, or if you forgot to register it etc. you don't get away with it. we can have a bit of leeway on that under certain circumstances though. In addition 1st class postage is considered served, so the old trick of not signing for any registered letters don't work.
It's a shame the Post Office don't have the same confidence in first class letters being delivered!
What happens if the PO lose the notice and so you do not reply as you never received the letter? Surely it is up to the police to prove the letter was delivered (innocent until proven guilty and all that)?
================
Graham and Rosie
A few years ago now I was clocked at 110, and duly summonsed. I received a 14 day ban, and was pleasantly surprised to receive a clean licence thereafter.
I don't think the courts would be quite so understanding these days however, so don't be tempted to try for a short ban just to clean your slate!
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff