driving without seatbelt fpn

londonTiger

I got done for driving without seatbelt fpn.

I dont know why I accepted it, it was 9pm at night. the cabin of cars is pitch black and you'd need night vision to see if someone is wearing seat belt or not.

I do put seatbelt on autopilot, and take it off when I park up. It's autopilot and I don't even consciously think about it.

Anyway, police waved me over as I was driivng, asked me to wind my windows down to talk to me and then asked to step out of the vehicle. I think he saw that I did not have my seatbelt on then - but did not mention it.

After checking my license and running it through their computers he comes up to me and says why were you driving without seatbelt?

I was being stupid so I just accepted that on face value and took his word for it assumed I was. I said "I was just driving to the shops up the road and going back home".

So I was issued with a fpn (no points).

Upon reflection, my car makes an annoying chiming sound when there's no seatbelt on. I couldn't have been driving without one because it would have gone right up my tits. But I foolishly admitted to it.

I think the police saw me without the seatbelt after I had parked up and taken the belt off by autopilot.

Anyways. I couldn't be arsed to contest this. Especially given that I would still have to pay £60 court costs and if it doesn't go my way I may get points too. So because it's not worth fighting for, I decided to pay the fine.

Now I have to deal with insurance in February. I'm getting quotes and they have virtually all motoring offences listed apart from driving without seatbelt.

Are they not interested in that or do they not increase premiums for it?

Marktheshark

Why admit to something you say you did not do.
The seatbelt trick is an old one as well.
When stopped by police wait until the officer instructs you to take your seatbelt off and point out that if they want to speak to you in the car "can you just witness my seatbelt is on at this time officer before I step out of the car"
Might sound like you been silly, but it can save you £60.

Spicy_McHaggis

You won't have to declare the ticket and if you had of fought this you still wouldn't get points.

Spicy_McHaggis

Marktheshark wrote: »

Why admit to something you say you did not do.
The seatbelt trick is an old one as well.
When stopped by police wait until the officer instructs you to take your seatbelt off and point out that if they want to speak to you in the car "can you just witness my seatbelt is on at this time officer before I step out of the car"
Might sound like you been silly, but it can save you £60.

Why would it save you £60?

Joe_Horner

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

Why would it save you £60?

Cuz the pigs is out to get ya, man!

bod1467

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

Why would it save you £60?

It would save you whatever the FPN value was, because the alleged offence could not have happened.

Spicy_McHaggis

bod1467 wrote: »

It would save you whatever the FPN value was, because the alleged offence could not have happened.

Hundred quid then?

Aretnap

Insurers are usually only interested in endorseable offences. No seatbelt isn't endorseable. You won't get points for it in court either, though the fine would be bigger.

Tilt

I understand some forces offer an on-line course which (if taken) reduces the fine.

Spicy_McHaggis

Tilt wrote: »

I understand some forces offer an on-line course which (if taken) reduces the fine.

You mean a course instead of the fpn?

Wouldn't surprise me as they'll keep the money.

Tilt

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

You mean a course instead of the fpn?

Wouldn't surprise me as they'll keep the money.

AFAIK You still get the FPN but you get the option of doing the course (on line) which you have to pay for. If you compete it within a certain time, the FPN becomes null and void. I believe the course is run in conjunction with the AA.