court summons for driving while using mobile...tomorrow! help

e60london

Can someone please lend some advice.

I have just returned home from work only to find a letter (dated 5/1/12) summoning me to court tomorrow for 10am. It's for talking on the phone while driving which i admitted to and paid the fine last august but went on holiday the next day so didnt go to police station with my license.

What are my options? i'm hoping to fax them now with a covering letter asking for adjournment so i can at least represent myself.

please lend advice...

TrickyWicky

Don't use the mobile while driving. Thats the only advice I can give you.

Also if you are required to attend the police station you can't just not turn up and then ignore it for months on end, you should of written to them and at least told them you were going away so that there would be something in writing.

Bit late now isn't it. Instead of dealing with it you chose to ignore it and now you've got a summons you're now looking for a way to deal with it. Surely you could just ignore that too?!

e60london

Everything makes sense n hindsight. I am dealing with n employment tribunal with my ex employers and have had that swallow my time (and effort!).

I m happy to plead guilty but would like to be there in person to do it. Cant get there tomorrow.

Hey tricky, are you saying in all the years you have driven not once have you used the phone while driving (to talk or text)? hats off to you if thats the case. I admire your discipline.

Just to note: i dont mind the summons after all i did commit the offence. However, it's not on when you get it one day before the court date!!!

Trebor16

Did the payment you made clear from your bank account (or whatever method you used to pay for it)? And what is the date of the postmark on the envelope the summons came in?

If you are unable to attend in person then it is most likely you will be found guilty in your absence so I would make an effort to attend.

Further advice can be obtained from www.pepipoo.com.

TrickyWicky

e60london wrote: »

Hey tricky, are you saying in all the years you have driven not once have you used the phone while driving (to talk or text)? hats off to you if thats the case. I admire your discipline.

No. I leave it in my pocket where I can't reach it. If it rings, it rings. If its important they'll ring back.

I grew up without a mobile phone and somehow I managed perfectly well back then so I can definitely manage as an adult without it. Sure, when I am not driving it's nice to know I have it there (EG to call the emergency services) but when driving it gets ignored and I don't know how you can mention driving and 'text' in the same sentence.

The only time I might use it is hands free if its in the cup holder (EG from a previous call where I have pulled over) and even then I'm off it asap as I dislike the distraction and only if its an incoming call and might be urgent (EG something important going on in my life) otherwise I'll find somewhere to pull over and either wait for the next call if I have no credit or return the call if I have credit.

I put a lot of work into my car, I'd prefer to keep it in good condition. I would NEVER use a mobile handheld in the car. NEVER. My £15 cheap mobile from Tesco isn't quite as important to me.

rdwarr

You make a good point. I must have been 35 before I had a mobile and have also never felt the need to use one while driving since.

peter_the_piper

I would imagine that the court appearance is more to do with not furnishing the license as the OP has paid the fine (or did the cheque come back?). Suggest you also run this by pepipoo.com.

TrickyWicky

I don't understand those who think that texting is safe behind the wheel. All the time you're concentrating on what buttons to press you're attention isn't focussed on the road.

Before we had mobiles, you had to wait to hear from someone either on a landline or by email. Now we have them and you can make contact at any safe and convenient time, people decide that they can't wait a couple of minutes to pull over and instead have to do it while driving. It is pointless.

If your phone is that important, then the cost of a replacement car and points on your licence must be even more important: Pull over and use it safely.

e60london

peter_the_piper wrote: »

I would imagine that the court appearance is more to do with not furnishing the license as the OP has paid the fine (or did the cheque come back?). Suggest you also run this by pepipoo.com.

That's what I'm thinking too. It's a lesson learned the hard way and I will have to tell my work that I have to attend this. I'm worried about the fine to be honest and court costs although it does say £85 for the cost of court and whatever the court may punish you with on top. I will report back to you all anyway.

e60london

thanks sean. I am gutted. Please learn from my mistake everybody who does this...

anewman

e60london wrote: »

Hey tricky, are you saying in all the years you have driven not once have you used the phone while driving (to talk or text)? hats off to you if thats the case. I admire your discipline.

Bluetooth headsets. Can be had as cheap as £10. Would have saved you the fine and all the bother that's about to happen.