What speed limit applies to me?

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

Back to the original post. You say 68 in a 70mph zone. The only roads marked as 70mph are motorways, so you are talking about a road with national speed limit. So perhaps you are barking up the wrong tree.

Was the road a dual carriageway i.e. was there a division between the oncoming traffic and yourself.

It's probably worth a Google map link to the site you think you got caught.

Remember cars are limited to 60mph on unrestricted single carriageways.

Rover_Driver

jmroberts314 wrote: »

Yes the V5 specifically states that the vehicle is a "diesel car" so I reckon I have grounds for appeal. i've sent the driver information back and will wait to see what they offer...

If they have your letter and copy of the V5C, they should take no further action if the offence is exceeding the speed limit for a goods vehicle. If they don't, (or that is not the offence), the usual process is an offer of a speed awareness course or a fixed penalty (£100 and 3 points) - which may mean a magistrate's court case to appeal it.

doningtonphil

IanMSpencer wrote: »

Back to the original post. You say 68 in a 70mph zone. The only roads marked as 70mph are motorways, so you are talking about a road with national speed limit. So perhaps you are barking up the wrong tree.

Was the road a dual carriageway i.e. was there a division between the oncoming traffic and yourself.

It's probably worth a Google map link to the site you think you got caught.

Remember cars are limited to 60mph on unrestricted single carriageways.

I think this is a very valid question for the OP from IanMSpencer. I live ner the A75 to Gretna-Stranraer. It is single carriage way with numerous 'crawler lanes' up hills, where the carriageway becomes two lanes but with NO division from the oncoming carriageway. No end of people put their foot down- most likely assuming it is a 'Dual Carriageway'. Surprise surprise, the top of the hill is the speed camera van's favoutire parking spot.

So OP, can you confirm which road you were on and if there was a physical barrier between the two carriageways. Also, if it was a 'proper' dual carraigeway, that there weren't '60' signs at certain intervals?

jmroberts314

doningtonphil wrote: »

I think this is a very valid question for the OP from IanMSpencer. I live ner the A75 to Gretna-Stranraer. It is single carriage way with numerous 'crawler lanes' up hills, where the carriageway becomes two lanes but with NO division from the oncoming carriageway. No end of people put their foot down- most likely assuming it is a 'Dual Carriageway'. Surprise surprise, the top of the hill is the speed camera van's favoutire parking spot.

So OP, can you confirm which road you were on and if there was a physical barrier between the two carriageways. Also, if it was a 'proper' dual carraigeway, that there weren't '60' signs at certain intervals?

It's a very valid point. I drive the road in question very regularly, and have also double checked Google Maps / Earth to be 200% sure. It is a dual carriageway, with a physical barrier between oncoming traffic. Also, there is no crawler lane on the section of road, it changes from a 50 to a 70 (national speed limit signs), about a mile back from where I was caught. I have a copy of the v5 and have sent that, along with a letter pointing out it's classified as a car. Fingers crossed....

forgotmyname

Wont be the first time they got the vehicle class wrong.

One of the 7.5 ton drivers got done for exceeding 40mph on an A road, (predates the new rules). Thinking it had changed to a 40mph stretch and they didnt notice they went on the same route to check and no 40mph zones. The company had to send off the vehicles details and copies of the paperwork showing it was a 7.5ton vehicle and not heavier.

jmroberts314

Update:

A few days ago I sent a scan of the v5, with a letter pointing out it's classified as a car, attached to my driver details form. Yesterday I received a letter from the police apologising for the inconvenience, and confirming no further action will be taken and the matter is now closed.

Result!

AdrianC

jmroberts314 wrote: »

Update:

A few days ago I sent a scan of the v5, with a letter pointing out it's classified as a car, attached to my driver details form. Yesterday I received a letter from the police apologising for the inconvenience, and confirming no further action will be taken and the matter is now closed.

Result!

Which is exactly what should happen.

The operator in the camera van saw what looks like a Transit, and triggered the camera on that basis. The fact that this particular vehicle isn't, and isn't subject to the same limits as the vast majority of cosmetically very similar vehicles, is a relatively minor detail. Perhaps it should have been picked up before the s172 was sent out... but it was dealt with (correctly, and quickly) at the first opportunity thereafter.

neilmcl

AdrianC wrote: »

Which is exactly what should happen.

The operator in the camera van saw what looks like a Transit, and triggered the camera on that basis. The fact that this particular vehicle isn't, and isn't subject to the same limits as the vast majority of cosmetically very similar vehicles, is a relatively minor detail. Perhaps it should have been picked up before the s172 was sent out... but it was dealt with (correctly, and quickly) at the first opportunity thereafter.

It begs the question whether they would've "picked up" the error had the OP not sent the latter and the copy of the V5. I suspect not.

AdrianC

neilmcl wrote: »

It begs the question whether they would've "picked up" the error had the OP not sent the latter and the copy of the V5. I suspect not.

If the OP admitted they were guilty of the alleged offence, you mean, instead of pointing out that no offence had been committed?

patman99

It makes a change for an op to come back and update their thread. Thanks for doing that. Now anyone else with the same issue will know what steps to take with regards to what to send as their defence.