potential speeding ticket

fagin101

Hi,

am looking for some clarity on a potential speeding ticket i may receive.

I was going 40 in a 30 zone when i saw the speed camera flash at me, as it doesnt know me, i'm assuming it doesnt want to be my friend and wants to issue me with a speeding ticket.

My question is whether there is any special dispensation as I was taking my 18mth old daughter to a&e as she was wheezing heavily, her breathing was fast and from her belly and had she trouble sleeping (can prove this from a&e dept records etc) and it was at 3am and i was the only sole driving at that time. Are the police likely to be more lenient with this matter?

Also, i've heard that the police may offer a driving awareness course instead of the fine and points (sounds like a money spinner to me!).

And last question, IF it comes down to the points, will it affect my insurance renewal?

thanks

bod1467

To the last question - probably not. (At least it didn't used to). Insurance companies (used to) allow 1 speeding fine and 2 parking fines (real fines, not speculative invoices) without materially affecting the quoted price.

Regarding mitigating circumstances ... you'd need to appeal against the NIP received. Instructions on how to do so should be on the NIP itself.

PS - this board is really about parking and related fines, not fines in general.

bargepole

fagin101 wrote: »

....My question is whether there is any special dispensation as I was taking my 18mth old daughter to a&e as she was wheezing heavily, her breathing was fast and from her belly and had she trouble sleeping (can prove this from a&e dept records etc) and it was at 3am and i was the only sole driving at that time. Are the police likely to be more lenient with this matter?

That wouldn't be up to the Police, it would be up to the Magistrates. You would have to decline any offer of a fixed penalty, and opt for a Court hearing. There you would plead "special reasons" and present your medical evidence. If successful, it would mean they find you technically guilty, but with no fine or points

fagin101 wrote: »

Also, i've heard that the police may offer a driving awareness course instead of the fine and points (sounds like a money spinner to me!).

That's at the discretion of the local force, if you were within 10%+6 of the speed limit. It costs about £90, but you don't get any points.

fagin101 wrote: »

And last question, IF it comes down to the points, will it affect my insurance renewal?

Different insurers have different policies on that. You would have to phone and ask them.

bargepole

bod1467 wrote: »

... Regarding mitigating circumstances ... you'd need to appeal against the NIP received. Instructions on how to do so should be on the NIP itself....

Wrong. There is no facility to "appeal" against a NIP, which in the first instance is just a request for the driver's details.

Once they have the driver's name, they will get either an offer of a fixed penalty, or a driver awareness course. If they decline those, it goes to court.

bod1467

I wasn't sure. I've never had a postal NIP - I've only ever been stopped in person.

spacey2012

The magistrates would want to know why you did not call an ambulance.

Jordo

With regard to the speed awareness course, you will be offered this instead of points. It's about £80 and is four hours long, but is actually really good - I was dreading it thinking I would be patronised for an afternoon, but came away thinking everybody should have to sit it, not just speeders (I'm talking about you, people who don't indicate!). So don't worry about the course, it's actually really good.

Points don't go on your license and so won't affect your insurance, but if you get caught again within two years you'll get a fine and points, so be careful.

Tilt

bod1467 wrote: »

To the last question - probably not. (At least it didn't used to). Insurance companies (used to) allow 1 speeding fine and 2 parking fines (real fines, not speculative invoices) without materially affecting the quoted price.

Regarding mitigating circumstances ... you'd need to appeal against the NIP received. Instructions on how to do so should be on the NIP itself.

PS - this board is really about parking and related fines, not fines in general.

Since when did parking fines become an endorsable offence?

spacey2012

You have 14 days to receive a NIP, so if it is late, save the envelope.
With luck it may have been a dummy.

Tilt

spacey2012 wrote: »

You have 14 days to receive a NIP, so if it is late, save the envelope.
With luck it may have been a dummy.

Dosn't that depend on whether the driver is driving a hire or a recently purchased car though? I think the 14 days can be doubled to allow the police to trace the driver in those circumstances.

spacey2012

Its served to the registered keeper within 14 days , they have to name the driver, so at that stage the driver is not relevant.
Sorry should have made this clear