The Great Speed Awareness Course Scam

wymondham

Use the speed limiter function on your car (most have them) and you wont have to worry about this......

macker010662

I recently tried to partake... i was accused of 37 in 30 zone over pre measured distance..... returned form rather than query camera etc and due to home and health circumstances it was easier than taking on whether cameras were right ( family describe me as captain slow so ill let you judge if im a speed freak).
i returned NIP
I heard nothing for 4 months (approx)
got 2 summonses in 3 days each stating same in that my car was speeding and that i despite numerous communications had not supplied the name of driver!!!!
so now 2 offences 1 speeding 2 failing to disclose which is very serious carries 6 points and hefty fine.
we rearranged court hearing as i was taking my wife to long awaited consultants appt and date was set for 17 June.
i turned up
the prosecution didn't
I approched the usher and was told i was a confused old man as the date was july 17???
i showed email to usher stating 17 june
she rang the prosecution
she then said words to effevt well what do i say...hes here,,,,now!
after her chat to prosecution they admitted they had changed court date to facilitate a training day and though they told court nobody told ME!!!

Im now seeing my backside!! If id not turned up Id have a warrant issued and be arrested.
Im disabled and the hours spent traveling to court were uncomfortable as it took approx 1.5-2 hours each way ....fuel....parking...only to be told " sorry we changed date come back next month


Anybody aware of my options apart from a thermonuclear device inserted up the rectum of the tonk concerned with extreme prejudice??

My patience is not legendary and this is making my blood boil. surely they must be subject to redress of some sort.
Were it only a county court....I wish....they'd be out on their elbow and lost the case for no show but i doubt the magistrates courts allow such. The point of my defence was initially they made a mistake as i most certainly sent the NIP..this most certainly would seem to support my position. the most basic process of changing the date they wish to have me executed would be to tell the executioner but also the fella getting his neck stretched....ME!!!

sorry ive lapsed into a flippant tone but felt my blood boiling and humour helps

Dave

HWW

You turned up Dave when told to, the case should have been dismissed if the prosecution did not turn up & have zero communication skills.
For the nosy ones above - 35mph, so be careful in the West Mercia police area - no Mercy there..

TooManyPoints

Yes I can advise you but I'm about to go out for an hour or so. Will be back later.

Car_54

HWW wrote: »

You turned up Dave when told to, the case should have been dismissed if the prosecution did not turn up & have zero communication skills.
For the nosy ones above - 35mph, so be careful in the West Mercia police area - no Mercy there..

35 is the normal starting point for enforcement (110% plus 2).

elsien

HWW wrote: »

Having done the course yesterday, I am firmly of the opinion the course is a money making scam.
Advice, watch out in the West Mercia police area (Hereford, Worcester & Shropshire), ALL their Gatso's work, which is much more than can be said about the vast majority of them elsewhere, that have been abandoned/set fire to/run over Etc Most now rely on mobile camera's & unmarked police cars - no problem with the latter, if they catch some of the ridicules speeders (usually Audi & Merc) in the motorway & duel RH lane hoggers.


https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/burnt-speed-camera.html

Having also recently done the course courtesy of the variable speed limits on the M42, I will hold my hands up to speeding and recallibrating the camera would still have shown me as speeding. I'm relieved to not have the points and subsequent impact on my insurance so don't consider it a scam, more a welcome alternative.

TooManyPoints

Anybody aware of my options apart from a thermonuclear device inserted up the rectum of the tonk concerned with extreme prejudice??

At present you cannot be convicted of speeding – they have no evidence that you were driving. So you have two choices:

1. You can defend the “Failure to Provide” (FtP) charge on the basis that you did provide the details as required. Without, at the very minimum, proof of posting (and ideally with a photo-copy of your response) this is a very difficult defence to run.

2. You can offer to plead guilty to speeding but only on the condition that the FtP I dropped. To do this you need to attend court on the appointed day and ask to see the prosecutor for your case when you check in. Make your offer (it is rarely declined in straightforward circumstance such as yours) and when you are called into court the prosecutor will tell the court that the FtP charge is being dropped and you can then plead guilty to speeding. Do not under any circumstances plead guilty to speeding unless and until the "deal" has been agreed as you could end up with nine points. Whilst you’re at it you can ask the court to sentence you at the Fixed Penalty level (£100 and three points) rather than in accordance with the sentencing guidelines (which will involve a higher fine, a surcharge of 10% of the fine and £85 costs). They have guidance which allows them to do this:

Where a penalty notice could not be offered or taken up for reasons unconnected with the offence itself, such as administrative difficulties outside the control of the offender, the starting point should be a fine equivalent to the amount of the penalty and no order of costs should be imposed. The offender should not be disadvantaged by the unavailability of the penalty notice in these circumstances.

A sympathetic Bench should accede to your request but the court has no power to award a course – that ship has unfortunately sailed.

Two things to beware of:

You say you have two summonses. Are they summonses, postal requisitions or “Single Justice Procedure Notices”? If they are the latter you must respond to them by asking for a full court hearing.

If you are unfortunate enough to receive another NIP and Request for Driver’s details in the future and you are expecting to be offered either a course (up to 110% of the limit + 9mph) or a Fixed Penalty (up to 49mph in a 30 limit and limit + 24mph for other limits) you should follow up your return with a call to the ticket office if those offers have not been made within 28 days of your return. It will avoid this happening again.