help JR!!

[craigw]

Hi John, sorry to be yet another person asking for advice. I've just been stopped on a dual carriageway (50mph limit) I thought it was 70. OOPSD! I was clocked by the police radar as doing 81. Realise I'm going to get a summons, just wondered what the likely result will be. Is it better to go to court or not? Any tips on what to say. Any help (from anyone as well as JR) gratefully appreciated. Cheers guys, Craig

[200Plus Club]

potential for a short ban as over 30mph over posted limit. have a look at http://www.caughtspeeding.co.uk/ and see what they tell you to expect. you will certainly get a bigger fine and maybe 6 points max if you dont get banned. time for a well written letter from your employer/self saying how you may have to lose your job if you are unable to drive etc through loss of license. saying all that sometimes a short (2 weeks to a month) ban is maybe preferable to points and a big fine? any mitigating circumstances at all? pleading guilty staright away and being humble also works with magistrates as they have heard evry excuse ever made. good luck chris

[john robson]

As per previous posting , they are going to look at a short ban. If you are likely to suffer undue hardship from this then you can plead 'special reasons' in which case they can choose not to ban you. The only problem with this is that you can only use it once in three years. Be prepared to evidence what you say though it is down to the magistrates, and don't forget the obvious lying on oath is a far more serious offence than speeding and gets you a criminal record not just points.

[craigw]

Thanks very much guys. No mitigating circumstances at all, completely my fault. Wouldn't affect my job at all, would just be a pain in the a*se getting to work and back, just have to take it on the chin. The only odd thing is that there was a car right behind me doing the same speed, they pulled him as well but let him go?? Thanks again.

[craigw]

Just been this morning, was very humble, got 6 points and a £500 fine

[Nightmare]

in theory thats impossible - dont you love our legal system? (or did you use the 'special reasons' thing?) nasty fine, but 6 points better than ban I would have thought

[Alex]

Six months actually. I agree though, a short ban is preferable to points.

[Nightmare]

eh? why does another 3 take you out of the picture...? we have 12 to play with points on licence for speeding..insurance companies none too bothered. ban on licence (which incidently I believe stays on for 5 years and not 3 as with points)...insurance can go very much upward

[john robson]

Ban is worse in terms of ins co's, some ask you to declare any bans and convictions in the last 5 yrs. The only advantage with a ban is that it gives you a clean slate, so to speak.

[Nightmare]

Mike, have just been re-reading this....sorry was very stupid earlier! cheers Night p.s. John...as a result I think points are a very sensible option. You now have to watch yourself and your speed for 3 years, but it wont bugger your financial situation for ever and a day. If they ban you it will, and in theory you can just speed merrily onward

[john robson]

Ultimatley that is the whole point of points (sorry no pun intended) 3 points = careful driver, 6 points = very careful driver, 9 points = paranoid driver, 12 points = stupid, banned driver who cannot take a subtle warning 15 points = driver who has grovelled to the magistrates and pulled it off Edited by john robson on Thursday 14th June 19:52

[Nightmare]

ooh - I was a section 5 case for 3 years...all over now thankfully...!

[richb]

John, I like it ! All we need now is to convince the government that the plans in their "DTR consultataion paper" have got several wheels off. If they start dishing out points like confetti, as proposed, we will loose any remaining respect for the system. Rich... (Carefull driver)

[trefor]

So if 3 points = careful driver what do we call 0 points? maybe 'Drives too slowly'? Trefor/.

[Marshy]

I was wondering that. So, with tongue firmly in cheek, I proffer this:- 0 points = wuss

[apache]

nah, 0 points = virgin