First speeding fine in 35 years -advice needed

lyniced

Hubby got done for doing 82 on M4. Letter came today, from South Wales Police. It said no need to pay now, just send letter back. What happens now? Does hubby get fined or does he get offered a speed awareness course? This is his first conviction after nearly 35 years of driving. Oh and btw, we live in Kent, and the offence was in Wales.

kerby_crawler

lyniced wrote: »

Hubby got done for doing 82 on M4. Letter came today, from South Wales Police. It said no need to pay now, just send letter back. What happens now? Does hubby get fined or does he get offered a speed awareness course? This is his first conviction after nearly 35 years of driving. Oh and btw, we live in Kent, and the offence was in Wales.

You probably just have to wait and see what comes back from the Welsh police. If he gets offered a speed awareness course, you will have to calculate the difference in cost between doing the course, and paying the fines etc. The insurance company may or may not help you to predict the possible effects on the next few years' premiums.

My son did the two-day course some years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed doing it! (but he was fighting a careless driving charge...)

lyniced

kerby_crawler wrote: »

You probably just have to wait and see what comes back from the Welsh police. If he gets offered a speed awareness course, you will have to calculate the difference in cost between doing the course, and paying the fines etc. The insurance company may or may not help you to predict the possible effects on the next few years' premiums.

My son did the two-day course some years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed doing it! (but he was fighting a careless driving charge...)

Do you think he'd have to go to Wales to do a speed awareness course?

kerby_crawler

lyniced wrote: »

Do you think he'd have to go to Wales to do a speed awareness course?

I have no clue! But it seems likely...

The costs of going to Wales would have to be included in the calculations.

With no expert knowledge about these things, I would guess that 82mph on the M4 will probably only attract the standard fixed penalty.

Sgt_Pepper_2

lyniced wrote: »

Do you think he'd have to go to Wales to do a speed awareness course?

If they and you home force are in the national scheme he may not have to.

Aretnap

82mph will qualify him for a speed awareness course, assuming the speed limit was 70. He won't have to go to Wales - most police forces (including all the Welsh ones, and Kent) are in the national scheme, which means you can do a course organised by your local force in lieu of one organised by the force in the area in which you were caught. Courses in Kent cost £85 and take 4 and a half hours - you can see more information on them here

http://www.kent.gov.uk/roads_and_transport/road_safety/diversionary_schemes/national_speed_awareness.aspx

kerby_crawler

I have often thought that a short course in safe driving would be most effective if the police could take you off the road without notice at the time of committing the offence, and deliver the course there and then.

The inconvenience/embarrassment to the driver and his/her passengers would be at least as much of a deterrent to further offending as the content of the course.

Sgt_Pepper_2

kerby_crawler wrote: »

I have often thought that a short course in safe driving would be most effective if the police could take you off the road without notice at the time of committing the offence, and deliver the course there and then.

The inconvenience/embarrassment to the driver and his/her passengers would be at least as much of a deterrent to further offending as the content of the course.

You haven't really thought that one through have you?

kerby_crawler

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

You haven't really thought that one through have you?

Explain...

ValHaller

kerby_crawler wrote: »

Explain...

The only role of the police is to 'allege' and brief the prosecutor. Not to act as Judge, Jury and Executioner. So quite rightly, the police should never get the power to take anyone off the road or get anyone expelled from the Cabinet.

Or have I missed something?

Ian_W

Assuming that part of the M4 where he was clocked is 70mph national speed limit there is every likelihood he'll be offered a course as an alternative to a fine, 82 is certainly within the guidelines for a course but some of the M4 (around Newport tunnels I think and maybe elsewhere) is 50mph.

I did one recently after over 40yrs without getting caught, I was done in North Wales but attended a centre about a mile from home. It lasts 4 hours are they are available during the working day and at evenings and weekends. Overall it was quite interesting, not at all patronising but quite thought provoking.