3 pts 1st time out

caro100

Hi, not sure if this is the right place to ask but would appreciate any comments.

My 21 year old son passed his test 2 weeks ago 1st time. He waited a week then bought a car and insured it the next day. A couple of hours after insuring it he went out with his brother to get used to driving the car on an industrial estate as he was a bit nervous driving a different car to the one he learned in. Later the same day he went out for the first time on his own ( a Sunday when the roads were quiet) He came back devastated and said he had been pulled up by the police and been given a fine and 3 points on his license for going through a red light.
My son said the light was on amber but the policeman wasn't having any of it. He explained that he was a new driver and was getting used to the car and driving on the local roads for the very 1st time, to no avail.

Should he just take it on the chin and hope he doesn't get any more points in the next 2 years or should he appeal. I think that a fine and a warning (to stay on the police system) would have been an apt punishment bearing in mind it was 1st time out driving on his own. Maybe I'm biased but I do think it was a bit harsh giving him 3 points.

Thanks for any advice.

Cat695

Driving through a red light can be a serious offence......he could have also been done for driving without due care and attention, so infact your son got off lightly IMO.

Appealing it will achieve nothing...the courts will side with the Police at the end of the day its hs word against theirs....

Let this be a lesson to him....3 more points and he will lose his licence so he best take extra care from now on.

greyteam1959

Take it on the chin and move on.........
But its upsetting for the lad...
Oh and by the way I have been driving for 33 years and never had a ticket for anything THEN I got 2 speeding tickets in 24 hours !!!!!!!
Right well p*ssed off I can tell you.

JimLad

1st time or not. The same rules apply.

You arnt allowed to go through red lights and are only supposed to go through amber if it isnt safe to stop.

mcjordi

was it a traffic car that pulled him or a normal cop car??

if it was the traffic car you can request the video evidence, but iirc it has to go to court

your son maybe better off taking it on the chin and dont be an amber gambler as they say

Inactive

Remember that an amber light also means Stop, unless it is unsafe to do so, also if any part of the vehicle was over the line when the lights went to red, even the back bumper, then it still counts as a red light offense.

Take it on the chin...lesson learned.

mountainofdebt

I think in fairness that whilst your son could have been in the wrong (seems its his word against the Police) he may have been treated a little harshly ...........

......I got stopped by the Police once for doing exactly the same thing, got told off for doing it (it was one of those situations where the green light was for traffic going straight on and red for those turning right) and then told off for not using my driving mirror (apparently they had been indicating for me to stop for about 5 minutes and I only stopped when they put the sirens on and I pulled over 'cos I thought they wanted to overtake).

As others have said its a lesson to be learnt - although it might be an expensive lesson as the 3 points will increase his premiums next year

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

mountainofdebt wrote: »

I think in fairness that whilst your son could have been in the wrong (seems its his word against the Police) he may have been treated a little harshly ...........

......I got stopped by the Police once for doing exactly the same thing, got told off for doing it (it was one of those situations where the green light was for traffic going straight on and red for those turning right) and then told off for not using my driving mirror (apparently they had been indicating for me to stop for about 5 minutes and I only stopped when they put the sirens on and I pulled over 'cos I thought they wanted to overtake).

As others have said its a lesson to be learnt - although it might be an expensive lesson as the 3 points will increase his premiums next year

You sound like a brillant driver:rolleyes:

Inactive

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

You sound like a brillant driver:rolleyes:

Indeed, the mind boggles...

dacouch

For once linasPilibaitisisbatman I agree with you :rotfl:

Personally I think getting the ticket from the police could benefit his driving in the long run as hopefully it will make him a more cautious driver and aware of the implications of his actions. If they had let him off he may have become complacent.

The Police are professionals and on the whole (Not always) use their judgement and experience when deciding whether a ticket or just a talking to is the right course of action.

Anyway congratulations to your son on passing and hopefully this lesson will have a good effect on his long term driving habits

McKneff

As another poster has said, if he gets another 3 points on his licence within two years of passing his test, his licence is automatically revoked so he will
have to be reminded to be on his best behaviour