Really need advice - partner's speeding tickets

puddleduck12

My OH is a trade plate driver - drives cars around the country to different depots. He's only had this job a month and has a clean license, never had a single point. He's 36 so not an inexperienced driver.

Today a speeding ticket came through from the 26th Feb. He was caught going 58 in 50mph zone on the m1 (apparently it's apparently a temporary restriction due to road works). He's been offered the chance to take the speed awareness course to not get the points and fine.

However he's told me that in that 1st week of driving he was probably marginally speeding on the m1 a lot as he was stressed learning the new job and late for his pickups.

I'm terrified loads of tickets are going to come through - of course he only needs 4 tickets and he'll lose his license and job.

I don't know what to do. Like I said, he's always had a clean license and it might just be minor speeding he's caught for.

gilbert_and_sullivan

He'll either learn quickly or he'll have to find another type of work.

puddleduck12

The thing is it may already be too late.

Follow up question - if we can't afford the tickets then will they accept payment plans?

gilbert_and_sullivan

That's a relationship thing, he'll have to take responsibility for his own driving misdemeanors, you can't nor should you do that for him.

I have no idea about terms on fixed penalties.

nicholaswitchell

Well if you physically didn't have the money, they would HAVE to accept payment in installments, so I suspect that this would be an option.

Astronaughtwannabe

If he takes the course, that's 3 points he won't be getting ��

Astronaughtwannabe

nicholaswitchell wrote: »

Well if you physically didn't have the money, they would HAVE to accept payment in installments, so I suspect that this would be an option.

Only if you want to take the more expensive option of court.


Instalments is not an option for a conditional offer of fixed penalty. For the sake of £100 it really isn't worth considering the alternative.


Anyway, no point worrying about what only MIGHT appear in the post.

pendragon_arther

If you don't hear within 2 weeks of each offence you can sleep easy.

Aretnap

nicholaswitchell wrote: »

Well if you physically didn't have the money, they would HAVE to accept payment in installments, so I suspect that this would be an option.

No it wouldn't. Not for a fixed penalty at least. The deal is pay £100 within 28 days, or go to court. If you go to court the court will generally impose a larger fine (theoretically up to £2500 for a motorway offence, in practice 50-100% of your weekly income, depending on the speed) plus costs. Generally it would accept payment of the larger fine by installments, but begging, borrowing or stealing the £100 to pay the fixed penalty in the first place would nearly always be the better option.

Anyway, to answer the original question there's not really much you can do right now except cross your fingers and hope there are no more nasty surprises in the post. And tell him to slow down from now on, of course.

Aretnap

pendragon_arther wrote: »

If you don't hear within 2 weeks of each offence you can sleep easy.

Only if he's the registered keeper of the cars involved. If he's driving cars around on trade plates for delivery it may well take longer for the tickets to catch up with him.

GabbaGabbaHey

puddleduck12 wrote: »

Today a speeding ticket came through from the 26th Feb.

Did it come to you directly, or through your husband's employer?

A NIP needs to be received within 14 days of the alleged offence to be valid, which is why I ask.

You also might want to ask your question on http://forums.pepipoo.com/ where you will get specialist advice.