caught speeding

[JonnyBoy]

well.. the dreaded letter finally came through the post from Cardif police.

It was a speeding offence caught by an independant company, however the coppers are asking for name and address of the driver within 28 days.

What would the fine be? 81 in a 70.

Is it likely to be a fine and points, or just a fine?

Is it worth asking to see photo evidence, or will that just p*** the coppers off and increase their interest in *doing* me?

Will penalty points increase my insurance quotes when i take on new insurance?

Lets imagine for a second - hypothetically - that i have a 2nd foreign licence, is there anythig to stop me submitting my address from that licence?

I also seem to remember that the camera van was parked on a hard shoulder on the dual carriage way.. would that sort of thing be evident on a picture - or are they generally zoomed images?

Am i being a bit of a girl?

thanks

[Mark Stanton]

You done the crime now pay the fine - it happnes to most of us          

If its only 3 points it won't do your insurance any harm whatsoever - however more than 3

Standard thing is usually a fine and 3 points        

[Dracoro]

It was a speeding offence caught by an independant company, however the coppers are asking for name and address of the driver within 28 days.

'Independant company'?

www.pepipoo.com I think has advice.

[MartT]

When you're caught you're caught I guess, but I can't see the harm in asking for the photographic evidence. Afterall you may not remember who was driving the car and their piccie would prompt you

[Thrustyjust]

could ask for calibration certificates of the device that caught you,you are within your rights for this.Sometimes it cost more in their time than the fine will pay.

[Nick M]

Firstly, chances are you're b*******ed BUT....

You must do EVERYTHING you possibly can to make them work for their money.  Request photographic evidence, calibration certificates, information about how the equipment was being used to ensure they are in compliance with their own guidelines, details of the location of the camera, the name of their first pet, etc., etc.

Do not give in lightly.  They cannot penalise you any more simply because you requested clarity about the alleged offence.  You are innocent until PROVEN guilty, or until you admit the crime.

Like I said, chances are it won't affect the outcome but don't be an easy victim.  Make them waste some of the fines they so valiently collect....

[scruffythefirst]

I seem to remeber that if the van was parked illegaly the evidence is invalid.

[mark.anson]

The fine will be £60 and 3 points most likely.

You are entitled to advanced disclosure of the evidence ie the picture, and no it wont pee them off if you ask for it. Wont be much use to you unless you genuinley dont know who was driving the car.( and since you remember where the van was parked,I think you do remember)

Even if you wernt driving you are required under sec172 Road Traffic Act to give details af the person who was. And saying that sevral people have access to the car and you dont know etc etc wont work either.

If however you try the old foriegn address trick, while it may delay things slightly; the only thing it is actually delaying is a charge of attempting to perverting the course of justice, which will focus your mind more than the speeding ticket.

Galling as it is, take the fine and move on.    

Mark

[Impney]

You must do EVERYTHING you possibly can to make them work for their money.  Request photographic evidence, calibration certificates, information about how the equipment was being used to ensure they are in compliance with their own guidelines, details of the location of the camera, the name of their first pet, etc., etc.

Do not give in lightly.  They cannot penalise you any more simply because you requested clarity about the alleged offence.  You are innocent until PROVEN guilty, or until you admit the crime.

Like I said, chances are it won't affect the outcome but don't be an easy victim.  Make them waste some of the fines they so valiently collect....

Couldn't agree more.

The authorities must prove beyond all reasonable doubt that you were the offender. A photograph taken of the rear of a car is not the best evidence.

It proves that a car bearing a number plate similar to yours was caught, but not much else.

My brother ignored them initially, then asked for cal certs etc, and ended up writing to the chief constable asking where under the current human rights legislation did it say he had to self incriminate. They gave up. Total cost about £5.

However , if you ask to see the photographic evidence and in the photo you can see your face, your f£$*&d!

People travelling along the M4 in Wiltshire beware!

[Eccentric_Rich]

Firstly, chances are you're b*******ed BUT....

You must do EVERYTHING you possibly can to make them work for their money.  Request photographic evidence, calibration certificates, information about how the equipment was being used to ensure they are in compliance with their own guidelines, details of the location of the camera, the name of their first pet, etc., etc.

Do not give in lightly.  They cannot penalise you any more simply because you requested clarity about the alleged offence.  You are innocent until PROVEN guilty, or until you admit the crime.

Like I said, chances are it won't affect the outcome but don't be an easy victim.  Make them waste some of the fines they so valiently collect....

Excellent advice, have as much correspondence with them as you can and stall payment for as long as you can get away with to ensure your £60 speeding 'tax' costs them much more than £60 to collect.

Richard.

[jeff oakley]

As others have said you can ask to see the details. Now hypotheticly of course if a person who was insured to drive your car was registered in another country and was driving your car then simply send the details of the said driver to the ploice and you have fulfilled your duty. If they chose to contact the hypothetical driver so long as he pays they will never question it as all they want is the cash.

If you do everything to identify the driver but cannot they may take you to court anyway, if you choose to fight the alleged offence unfortunatly you will be punished more by the court. The NIP is an invitation to rool over and cough up a set amount of cash, if they have to work for it and you are found guilty they fine is higher in every case I know.

Good luck

[smithydar]

slightly different but... a few years ago i had a letter saying i had been caught speeding..which of course i was..

i phoned the ticket office and disputed it asking for evidence..

the first reply was ...a copper with a radar gun had caught me..my reply was ,then why didnt he chase and book me..

they rang me back saying it was a fixed camera..again i asked for evidence.but they didnt have any..it turned out in the end it was a member of the public that had complained about me.so due to insufficient evidence they could do b******* all.

but i could have just accepted it and had 3 points and a fine,but i didnt.

so my advice would be to ask for evidence showing you were actually speeding.

thats what i'd do for sure..

as to whether or not it will p*** them off..probably. but if you do end up paying a fine,at least they would have earnt their money.

you never know it could have been your reg on another vehicle..this does happen..

hth darren  

[mike m]

from a reliable source within the police and has been said before ask to see the calibration certificate of the equipment used, most are out of date

[mark.anson]

from a reliable source within the police and has been said before ask to see the calibration certificate of the equipment used, most are out of date

Maybe, maybe not, but these private type companys tend to be a bit more efficient.

The thing to remember is that the police and the enforcement agencys have seen and heard of almost every trick and excuse in the book.

By all means ask them for all the evidence though. They may just send you a court summons though in anticipation of a trial. Depends on where you are in the country though.

[Mark S]

I agree that you should ask for sight of photo. evidence and calibration cert. If photo is unclear or digitally enhanced in any way then you may have cause for dispute. If it does not clearly show who is driving then it may have been someone else (know what I mean?)Some constabularies will not release photo. evidence until you dispute case in court, and if you do this it could result in a bigger fine and more points plus costs. If calibration cert. is out of date then you should have a strong case. If you have a clean license currently, and the photo. evidence looks convincing, I suggest you grin & bear it, and be more careful (I have been "Mr 9 points" several times and know how it feels!. If, however, you are on 9 points and up against it, then dispute it and get a solicitor. Insurance companies tend to load on the first conviction and not bother too much after that unless you do something really silly.