Fixed Penaly Notice - should I go to court?

shaun_from_Africa

Portly_Pig wrote: »

But the tyre isn't good if the sidewall is damaged is it?

But it wasn't stated that it was good when the ticket was issued.
What was stated was that the tyre was in good condition before the sidewall damage occurred.

im offering an opinion, its a bit harsh to be issued with penalty points if both good condition tyres got damaged due to a pot hole

If you think this sort of ticketing is fair, how about giving tickets whenever someone ends up with a broken windscreen after a stone flies up from another vehicle.
Should people be booked whenever this happens?, after all just because the windscreen was fine when the journey began doesn't mean anything.

goomba

Thanks guys, really appreciate your input. Everything I've said here is accurate and not exaggerated. Will the courts take a statement from the officer? The bump on the tyre was definitely bigger today so I'm convinced it happened yesterday. I have a receipt for replacing both tyres which states the damage to both was caused by impact, took pictures of both tyres close up and while they were on the car showing they are on the same side.The guys at the garage said I have a solid case and should take it to court. so I think I'm decided that's what I'll do.

Shawn_Dark

These people are mostly scum and the few good one are hard to come by.

In my experience all I can say is cut your losses and move on. I have found the law to be a money making system first then the rest comes later (at their convenience).

Be thankful you didn't get the maximum the rozzers could have given you (although as much as they'd want to they probably couldn't justify it anyway, especially as a first offence).

As for court then unless your very well clued up, have financial resources to fall back on and good contacts to go to (not to mention the time and stress involved) I would leave court alone.

I tried to challenge my points and a fine and ended up getting double points and quadruple the fine. It was my second speeding offence which occurred five years after the first (the first being an SP30 which I got six years after first passing my test).

Just ensure you know the basics about car maintenance and minor repairs (e.g. checking your engine fluid levels, tyre tread and pressure, how to inflate a tyre and change a wheel and headlight bulbs. In other words, things that you could do if you did breakdown or have a minor car issue whilst out and about. Youtube has loads of tutorials you can watch or just google the subject and you can read or watch tutorials.

Thankfully I've got my wife clued up on this and she even ended up showing her mother and grandparents!

Avoriaz

Portly_Pig wrote: »

So what was it you ran over?

The policeman's foot perhaps?

:whistle:

Paradigm

goomba wrote: »

Thanks guys, really appreciate your input. Everything I've said here is accurate and not exaggerated. Will the courts take a statement from the officer? The bump on the tyre was definitely bigger today so I'm convinced it happened yesterday. I have a receipt for replacing both tyres which states the damage to both was caused by impact, took pictures of both tyres close up and while they were on the car showing they are on the same side.The guys at the garage said I have a solid case and should take it to court. so I think I'm decided that's what I'll do.

Given the circumstances & what you have, I'd be looking at court.

From your description it looks like accidental damage & the tyre guys seem to agree, if you have that in writing then defend it.... I would.

Paradigm

Portly_Pig wrote: »

And what would your defence be?

I only drove on it for 10 miles.

My defence would be that the tyre I was given the FPN for...

came back and said he will give me a warning for the puncture and 3 points for the bump on the rear tyre.

was damaged due to driving over a pothole which also caused the front tyre puncture.

How is "driving for 10 miles" relevent or needing to be mentioned? The OP wasn't "ticketed" for the front tyre....

Shawn_Dark

Portly_Pig wrote: »

So what were you convicted of, twice?

SP30 both times.

The first time was fair enough (I was overtaking a slow driver who kept pulling over and speeding off). Others had overtaken him but the copper decided to pick me out of the queue of drivers.

Ultrasonic

goomba wrote: »

the bolts on the wheel were too tight to undo because they had been tightened by the machine last time.

While I think of it, I suggest that you buy yourself one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-19152-Extending-Wheel-Wrench/dp/B0001K9QGI

It's not uncommon to find that the wrench provided with a car is too short to be able to undo bolts done up at garages, but an extending or long handled wrench makes it easier. A good few years ago I was emabarrassed to find I couldn't get the wheel off a car and ended up having to phone my breakdown cover company for help. The recovery guy then tried with a very long handled wrench and still struggled but did eventually get it off. The garage that fitted the wheel had clearly done the bolts up WAY too tight. I subsequently bought and extending wrench like above and have changed several tyres with it since (not all on my own car) without problem.

I'd also suggest that you get a friend that knows what they're doing to show you how to change a wheel on your car sometime. It's much better to have had a practice go when safe at home, before you find yourself having to do it in a real emergency at the side of a busy road, in the rain if you're especially lucky.

Ultrasonic

goomba wrote: »

took pictures of both tyres close up and while they were on the car showing they are on the same side.

The photos won't really prove the tyres were on the same side since you could have switched them before taking the photo (not saying you did!) But the police report should state this anyway so I can't see where the wheels were being disputed.

It might be interesting for the discussion here if you could post the photos?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

go over to pepipoo and post the same