We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Court summons for been 6" over in a 6ft 6" width restriction HELP
Options
Comments
-
The difference between the breath test example (#29) and this is that the alcohol level drops with time so will never be proven again but the van is still here so it can be measured again and again be proven to exceed the width limit0
-
Can speeders can also use the logic of how should I know? and say "I didn't know I was doing 130, I didn't look at the speedo", so why is it my fault ? as the op is only an honorary baggy !!!! trucker, I would cough up and stop whining, ignorance is no excuse, and the world is full of ignorance and why me's, the story of how you are officially 6" too big, should get you a pint down the pub.0
-
So what. He's not taking himself to Court - the burden of proof is on the police officer.
If I was 5 times over the limit, but the officer didn't do the breath test properly I can be found not guilty.
All the officer has to do to prove his case is pass the magistrate a copy of the standard specs for the vehicle, which show that it is bigger than the limit at the time it left the factory (and I beleive the op has admitted that much).
Case closed.
The fact the vehicle is wider than the standard just makes it potentially even easier for the officer, and the only way the op is going to prove otherwise is to arrive at the court with the van and let the magistrates measure it.
For the sake of a £30 non endorseable fine I wouldn't take something to court when I already know I was in the wrong, and that it's very easy for them to prove it.0 -
Classic case of "careful what you wish for" IMO. You said, "won't pay, take me to court" they did a Jimmy Saville and fixed it for you. You should have at least considered it a possibility when you decided you wouldn't pay, if you had you'd have realised that £30 is about as cheap as it gets.
Plod could have warned you but may not have been impressed that a professional driver didn't know the width of his van, your employer (or you if SE) certainly wouldn't have been if you'd ignored a sub 6'6" warning on a side road or rat run that was solid and capable of shrinking your 7' truck by a few inches!! I don't know the road works you were caught in but most have lane 1 (sometimes lane 2 as well) as ANY VEHICLE, the width restriction on the other lanes is because they're NARROWER during the work, so if the copper was following you he probably knew you were over as you were straddling the lane marking or at least close to doing so.
What to do now? Well you could ask to go back to a ticket, pay up and move on. Worth asking but I fear it won't be possible if a summons has been issued. You could take the high risk gamble and go for a hearing with a not guilty plea. You will get your costs if you win but frankly your only chance is if the copper doesn't turn up, does happen but don't bank on it! Will cost you a days work, court costs, larger fine, victims fee - A LOT - if you lose, which you probably will. Written GP with mitigation will be cheaper all round, but still dearer than the ticket. Them's your only options IMO.0 -
If plod offered me a chance of a £30 pay it now fine when i've been daft enough to get caught bang to rights i'd snatch his hand off, and thank him for the reasonable on the spot fine.
These 6' 6" limits are not there cos the signmakers were having a bogof sale, the usually outside lane is narrowed due to ongoing roadworks or similar, but there's always some van jockey in a tearing rush to get 20 seconds up the queue instead of wandering in the wider lanes for a couple of miles.
Doesn't bother me if van man wants to rip the side of his van out when he can't fit beside a truck in the n/s lane, but it does inconvenience the truck driver who has to stop and everyone else who gets held up whilst van mans disintegrated vehicle gets swept up.0 -
BRADFORDTIGERS wrote: »Its a mecedes sprinter 311 curtain sider van 3.5 tonne its the overhang for the body which causes it to be 7ft which is 3" at either side:(
Too wide then. Pay up.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 257.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards