Speed awareness courses - procedure?

brutal_deluxe

Hi all, apologies if this is a common topic but,

Does anyone know of the procedure for when you are offered an SAC? Do you receive a NIP first, send it back with driver details, and THEN you are offered the course?

or

Do you get the NIP AND offered the course in the first instance? How does it go?

or

If you are not offered the course, can you appeal to go on it to avoid points?

Thanks!

BD

System

Once the driver is identified you then get a letter giving you 3 options assuming that the driver qualifies for the SAC

1. Pay the FPN and take the points
2. Argue with a magistrate
3 Take a speed awareness course

You can not argue about going on it if that option is missing because it means that you do not meet the criteria see http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/11056. I believe that the criteria are universal and not force dependent.

brutal_deluxe

!!!!!! wrote: »

Once the driver is identified you then get a letter giving you 3 options assuming that the driver qualifies for the SAC

1. Pay the FPN and take the points
2. Argue with a magistrate
3 Take a speed awareness course

You can not argue about going on it if that option is missing because it means that you do not meet the criteria see http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/11056. I believe that the criteria are universal and not force dependent.

Thanks, just the info I was looking for.

BD

AdrianC

NIP - Notice of Intent of Prosecution - says that somebody was caught being naughty, and asks who it was.

You tell 'em. If it's not you, then they write to the person you named.

When somebody admits it was them driving, they can either admit they did it (plead guilty, effectively) or deny it. If they deny it - straight to court, because that's the only place for putting up a defence against the charge.

If you admit it, then IF you're eligible (you've not been on one in the last few years, as well as other factors), you MIGHT be offered one. Or you might get a £100/3pt fixed penalty. If you turn the course down, you can take the FP instead. Or you might just head straight to court.

The NIP can be verbal at the time, if you're actually stopped by a real live man in dayglo.

System

AdrianC wrote: »

NIP - Notice of Intent of Prosecution - says that somebody was caught being naughty, and asks who it was.

You tell 'em. If it's not you, then they write to the person you named.

When somebody admits it was them driving, they can either admit they did it (plead guilty, effectively) or deny it. If they deny it - straight to court, because that's the only place for putting up a defence against the charge.

If you admit it, then IF you're eligible (you've not been on one in the last few years, as well as other factors), you MIGHT be offered one. Or you might get a £100/3pt fixed penalty. If you turn the course down, you can take the FP instead. Or you might just head straight to court.

The NIP can be verbal at the time, if you're actually stopped by a real live man in dayglo.

Doesn't happen that way (just completed a SAC). Once you are identified as the driver then you get a 'Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty.

This has the 3 options outlined in my above post. Your choice. They will have already decided whether you are eligible by checking against your licence for any speeding offence in the last 3 years and whether the speed allows for a SAC.

RosiPossum

I got a NIP the other day, was flashed going 39/30.
Very annoyed as I don't speed knowingly. I'd looked moments before and there was a 40 sign, and a driver was driving badly next to me, I must have missed the 30 sign. So irritated with myself!
Hopefully I'll qualify for the course but I have a 9 week old I'm breastfeeding. Will I be able to take her (if I qualify)?
Thanks!

JustinR1979

Mine was years ago, but I was doing 38 and they said that was the limit - may have changed of course, but have to draw the line somewhere

System

RosiPossum wrote: »

I got a NIP the other day, was flashed going 39/30.
Very annoyed as I don't speed knowingly. I'd looked moments before and there was a 40 sign, and a driver was driving badly next to me, I must have missed the 30 sign. So irritated with myself!
Hopefully I'll qualify for the course but I have a 9 week old I'm breastfeeding. Will I be able to take her (if I qualify)?
Thanks!

You will be able to breastfeed BUT you will not be able to have the child in the room during the course*. A couple of threads on Mumsnet cover this. You will need somebody to look after the child outside the 'classroom' and leave to breastfeed. They should be able to arrange somewhere for you to do that.

This is not anti breastfeeding. The rules are quite strict. The ONLY people allowed in are the transgressors and the teaching staff - nobody else

RosiPossum

Thank you!

ElkyElky

!!!!!! wrote: »

This is not anti breastfeeding. The rules are quite strict. The ONLY people allowed in are the transgressors and the teaching staff - nobody else

I'd love to be able to do the course voluntarily. I'm a self confessed speeder, primarily on dual carriageway and motorways and so many people have said the course has helped them change their ways. Sadly, in Scotland we aren't offered such courses.

Iceweasel

ElkyElky wrote: »

I'd love to be able to do the course voluntarily. I'm a self confessed speeder, primarily on dual carriageway and motorways and so many people have said the course has helped them change their ways. Sadly, in Scotland we aren't offered such courses.

I could offer you a personal-service speed-awareness aversion-therapy course.

It's very easy - I sit in the back of your car and every time you exceed the speed limit I give you a clout on the head with a wooden mallet.

Next time you're out in the car - just imagine that I'm in the back.