My Ugandan friend was driving
My Ugandan friend was driving
Author
Discussion

popegregory

Original Poster:

1,868 posts

156 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
Or insert your country of choice with no reliable mail service here.

Purely out of curiosity. Whilst I absolutely would not condone such action and an attempt to pervert the course of justice, why don’t more people do this upon receipt of speeding fines which don’t identify the driver? “They showed me their license when they were here, they showed me their proof of insurance and they’ve now gone back to 38 Kampala Road”

British sense of fair play, people’s fear of getting in over their heads? Or are the sorts of people who might consider it just not registering vehicles properly in the first place and therefore completely circumnavigating the issue anyway?

basherX

2,888 posts

183 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
Upside: save a few points and a hundred quid

Downside: a PCOJ conviction and jail time

Maybe?

Austin Prefect

1,608 posts

14 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
Has there yet been a case where the 'friend' who was driving has accepted the penalty then used it as an alibi?

'No officer, at the time of the Slough sweetshop Toblerone heist I was driving past a speed camera in Llandudno, here is the proof.'

popegregory

Original Poster:

1,868 posts

156 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
Or insert your country of choice with no reliable mail service here.

Purely out of curiosity. Whilst I absolutely would not condone such action and an attempt to pervert the course of justice, why don’t more people do this upon receipt of speeding fines which don’t identify the driver? “They showed me their license when they were here, they showed me their proof of insurance and they’ve now gone back to 38 Kampala Road”

British sense of fair play, people’s fear of getting in over their heads? Or are the sorts of people who might consider it just not registering vehicles properly in the first place and therefore completely circumnavigating the issue anyway?

MDL111

8,400 posts

199 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
In Germany they will eventually then force you to record all your trips in a logbook - does not seem worth it to avoid points or even a small ban. And then there is the whole lying thing, which I assume can have quite severe consequences if proven.

E-bmw

12,022 posts

174 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
Username checks out!

trickywoo

13,487 posts

252 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
The judiciary in the UK loves nothing more than a PCoJ conviction.

Don’t underestimate their determination to get one.

popegregory

Original Poster:

1,868 posts

156 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
The judiciary in the UK loves nothing more than a PCoJ conviction.

Don t underestimate their determination to get one.
I guess that’s it isn’t it, the risk / reward just isn’t seen as being worth it. I know full well I wouldn’t bother but we were sat around discussing it in a neighbours garden last night and were surprised it was something you never hear of.

Super Sonic

11,745 posts

76 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
You have posted this thread twice!

popegregory

Original Poster:

1,868 posts

156 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
Super Sonic said:
You have posted this thread twice!
I have. Most odd!

Monkeylegend

28,260 posts

253 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
Super Sonic said:
You have posted this thread twice!
Oh no he hasn't it was his friend from Uganda who posted the other one.

SpudLink

7,547 posts

214 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
popegregory said:
…why don t more people do this upon receipt of speeding fines which don t identify the driver?
Because 3 points and a small fine for speeding becomes a custodial sentence for perverting the course of justice.

richhead

2,894 posts

33 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
does it not go to the registered keeper if the driver is unknown?

james6546

1,480 posts

73 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
My dad tried this and got 6 points and an offence equal to leaving the scene of an accident on his record biggrin

Super Sonic

11,745 posts

76 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
richhead said:
does it not go to the registered keeper if the driver is unknown?
The registered keeper has to name the driver.

jondude

2,429 posts

239 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
popegregory said:
trickywoo said:
The judiciary in the UK loves nothing more than a PCoJ conviction.

Don t underestimate their determination to get one.
I guess that s it isn t it, the risk / reward just isn t seen as being worth it. I know full well I wouldn t bother but we were sat around discussing it in a neighbours garden last night and were surprised it was something you never hear of.
It is also very unlikely the authorities would release the data on how often it happens and not least how often it is successful.

There were rumours if people did this the police tried to go for allowing the car to be driven without insurance, but again, if you say the driver showed you a policy and you had every right to presume he was insured, I'm not sure how far the police can go on this.

I would imagine it can still be done but yes, it will need nerves of steel and ability to deal with stress over quite a long time, hence why most people pay up.

qwerty360

277 posts

67 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
I expect on some of this you also rapidly run into the issue of digital records.

You proclaim your ugandan friend was driving.

Police ask border control about your Ugandan friend and are promptly told said friend wasn't in the country on the date in question (or at all...)


Oh...
Blaiming someone who wasn't in the UK at the time, or any time in 6 months before or since is a pretty easy PCOJ conviction given the driver you named can't possibly have been driving. And checking this is probably worth it just to avoid people thinking this is a valid way of getting away with it...

popegregory

Original Poster:

1,868 posts

156 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
Super Sonic said:
You have posted this thread twice!
Oh no he hasn't it was his friend from Uganda who posted the other one.
biggrin

Tye Green

946 posts

131 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
isn't this broadly what politician Chris Huhne and his missus did and both got jail time for?

mac96

5,597 posts

165 months

Saturday 21st June 2025
quotequote all
If someone asks to borrow your car and shows you a Ugandan driving license it is best to say a firm no!

I have been driven (in the UK) by a Uganda license holder and it soon became obvious that being able to drive was not a requirement to get one.