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

esmerobbo

How did you pay the fine without producing your licence? Two things probably because the licence was not produced the payment if by cheque was not presented, or is in a suspend account. They need your licence to add 3 points. So in court if the summons is for using the phone you will be fined, plus points, a victims surcharge and possibly costs. If they have added failure to produce your licence they could fine you for that also!

As suggested buy a bluetooth device if you need to be in contact whilst driving!;)

Remember everybody can be guilty of the same thing, the OP got done for using the phone, ( I am sure they have learned from it) how many of us could be done for "not being in proper control" ever sneezed? Wiped your nose? Drank? Eaten? Played with the radio? Smoked? Cleaned your teeth? Put your makeup on?;):p

Aretnap

A bit late now as you're presumably on your way to court, but if you don't surrender your licence you can't accept the fixed penalty. Your £60 should have been returned - if it hasn't you should pursue it with the ticket office.

If you admit the offence your best option is to plead guilty, apologise and explain that you would have accepted the fixed penalty were it not for your lack of understanding of the system.You'll be in and out of court in a few minutes, though you may be waiting around for a while beforehand. You can expect a fine of around half your weekly take home pay, reduced by a third for a guilty plea, plus maybe another £100 in costs and "victim surcharge". It will still only be 3 points in court - a ban is theoretically possible but very unlikely. As you didn't complete a statement of means your income will be assumed to be £350/week (the national average) - if your actual income is lower than this it will also be a point you want to raise at court (if you're not asked).

If you don't turn up and the court doesn't agree to an adjournment you will be convicted in your absence. The outcome will be much the same, but you won;t get a discount for a guilty plea, and you won't get chance to tell the court your actual income (if it's lower than £350).

Hadeon

esmerobbo wrote: »

Remember everybody can be guilty of the same thing, the OP got done for using the phone, ( I am sure they have learned from it) how many of us could be done for "not being in proper control" ever sneezed? Wiped your nose? Drank? Eaten? Played with the radio? Smoked? Cleaned your teeth? Put your makeup on?;):p

There would be a defence available for that called 'automatism';)

jimbo24168

A couple of years ago I was driving in lane 3 of a motorway when another car joined the motorway from a slip road. He was going about the same speed as me but he appeared to be coming straight across the lanes towards me. I blew my horn ( a bit pointless really in hindsight) and saw that he was talking on his mobile phone. He saw me at the last minute and slung his steering wheel to the left to avoid the collision. His car rolled over, he died.
Dont use your mobile whilst driving!!!

TrickyWicky

jimbo24168 wrote: »

A couple of years ago I was driving in lane 3 of a motorway when another car joined the motorway from a slip road. He was going about the same speed as me but he appeared to be coming straight across the lanes towards me. I blew my horn ( a bit pointless really in hindsight) and saw that he was talking on his mobile phone. He saw me at the last minute and slung his steering wheel to the left to avoid the collision. His car rolled over, he died.
Dont use your mobile whilst driving!!!

Bloody hell, theres a fine example of why not to use one if ever I read one.

Every loss of life is sad but at least that driver lost their own life and didn't take some other innocent road users life.

jimbo24168

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Bloody hell, theres a fine example of why not to use one if ever I read one.

Every loss of life is sad but at least that driver lost their own life and didn't take some other innocent road users life.

Yes, the motorway was quite busy at the time and by a miracle his car did not hit any other car. He rolled quite a few times but as the motorway was 5 lanes wide people had plenty of room to avoid him. A sobering experience though.

e60london

Thanks for the input

My case ended with then dining me 60 plus 3 points I also had to pay the court costs = 75 which means a total of £135. I was expecting about £400 so phew!

What I didn't tell u all was my car has the Bluetooth car kit, why I didn't use it that day I don't know. As I said before: in hindsight everything sounds better. I now realise talking on the phone could cost someone their life.


PLEASE DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!

esmerobbo

e60london wrote: »

Thanks for the input

My case ended with then dining me 60 plus 3 points I also had to pay the court costs = 75 which means a total of £135. I was expecting about £400 so phew!

What I didn't tell u all was my car has the Bluetooth car kit, why I didn't use it that day I don't know. As I said before: in hindsight everything sounds better. I now realise talking on the phone could cost someone their life.


PLEASE DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the update not a bad result! Did you enjoy the meal?:p