Speeding Fine

lawtz04

Hi guys,


Just wanted a bit of advice. A couple of weeks ago I was picking my girlfriend up from her Xmas works meal at 2am and I was caught speeding by an unmanned static speed camera.


I was doing 38mph in a 30mph zone, and saw the camera flash so knew the letter was coming.


The letter states it is under Section 89 (1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.


Of course, I accept I was over the speed limit although I feel a little aggrieved that it was only 8mph when there was nothing else on the road.


It is my first speeding fine in 14 years of driving. The fine is £100 and 3 penalty points. I have been told some get offered a speed awareness course but this doesn't seem to have been offered as yet (this is the first letter to which I reply to say it was me driving so I guess it could be offered later).


Am I bang to rights? Is it worth pleading that it is a first time offence? (probably not I guess).


Thanks!

paddedjohn

Once you have sent the form back with your details as driver you will more than likely be offered the chance to attend the driver awareness course.

Aretnap

Unless this was in Scotland, at that speed you'll almost certainly be offered a speed awareness course when you name yourself as the driver. It will cost roughly the same as the fixed penalty and will take up an afternoon of your time, but won't mean any points on your licence. Otherwise it will be 3 points and £100. Annoying, but it's not the end of the world.

Very little discretion is applied to camera detected offences and the fact that it was the first time you got caught won't make any difference (there's a first time for everything) nor will the fact that the roads were empty (the speed limit applies 24 hours a day).

lawtz04

Thanks for your advice - I thought as much and am glad I am likely to be offered a course.

DUTR

lawtz04 wrote: »

Hi guys,


Just wanted a bit of advice. A couple of weeks ago I was picking my girlfriend up from her Xmas works meal at 2am and I was caught speeding by an unmanned static speed camera.


I was doing 38mph in a 30mph zone, and saw the camera flash so knew the letter was coming.


The letter states it is under Section 89 (1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.


Of course, I accept I was over the speed limit although I feel a little aggrieved that it was only 8mph when there was nothing else on the road.


It is my first speeding fine in 14 years of driving. The fine is £100 and 3 penalty points. I have been told some get offered a speed awareness course but this doesn't seem to have been offered as yet (this is the first letter to which I reply to say it was me driving so I guess it could be offered later).


Am I bang to rights? Is it worth pleading that it is a first time offence? (probably not I guess).


Thanks!

That's 26% over, yes, you will have to wait to see if you get offered the SAC, however it's not the end of the world, although you say there was hardly anything on the road, apparently that is when the more severe accidents occur.

Steve059

However, when it comes time to renew your insurance, more and more companies are now specifically asking about SACs and regarding them as convictions.

rs65

Steve059 wrote: »

However, when it comes time to renew your insurance, more and more companies are now specifically asking about SACs and regarding them as convictions.

I've only seen that with the Admiral group - unless you know otherwise.

paddedjohn

Steve059 wrote: »

However, when it comes time to renew your insurance, more and more companies are now specifically asking about SACs and regarding them as convictions.

You can tell a little white lie and they have no way of sussing you out.

Steve059

rs65 wrote: »

I've only seen that with the Admiral group - unless you know otherwise.

I do the rounds of the comparison sites every year, and it's something I've noticed more companies - I can't recall which, as it doesn't apply to me - doing over the past few years. Hopefully, it remains just them.

spacey2012

You say a couple of weeks ?
Did the NIP arrive within 14 days of the offence and if not have you kept the envelope ?

Aretnap

Comparison sites will ask the question if any of the insurers on their panel ask it. It doesn't mean that most, or even many, insurers do it. AFAIK Admiral and their various brands are still the only ones which actually load for SACs. IIRC a couple of others are asking without actually loading premiums, presumably data gathering with a view to deciding whether to load premiums in future.

If/when the much delayed changes to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act come into force (maybe next spring) "alternatives to prosecution" will be treated in the same way as cautions and will become spent immediately, and therefore non-discloseable to insurers. I'd read that as including speed awareness courses.