Speeding help! I'm so scared

Nattylou74

Long story short. Me and dh are divorcing. I'm escaping dv and marital rape. I went to see a friend in Norwich. Was on my way home when my parents rang to say that dh had taken our children. Dh did not have permission to take them. I needed to get home. Unfortunately home was 254 miles away and our daughter is severely epileptic. I drove home as quickly as possible, unfortunately I was caught doing 50 in a 40 zone and 68 in a 60 zone. I wrote to Lincolnshire police and explained the situation. They've written back and are wholy unsympathetic. I'm absolutely petrified of what could happen. I can't lose my licence as a) I need it for my job, which pays my rent as I had to leave the marital home, and b) my daughter needs to go to hospital after her seizures and I need it for that. Also, if I get fined, how can I pay? I'm on a very low income, obviously now I've got rent etc. I didn't see the signs on the unfamiliar roads and was panicking as my children were missing! What the hell can I do?

neilmcl

Assuming your licence is clean then you won't be losing it but you will be getting points and a fine. Sorry to be unsympathetic but your back story is irrelevant as far as the offence is concerned and can't be used a defence.

Nattylou74

How many points and how big a fine?

neilmcl

Unless you go to court it will be treated as 2 offences so expect a £200 fine and 6 points.

Nattylou74

Is that per ticket or total? I earn just over 500 a month! It's gonna take me years to pay it off.
What if I go to court? What happens then?

neilmcl

£100 and 3 points per ticket. The courts have the discretion of treating it as a single offence if the fines were picked up on the same journey and generally within minutes of each other but you'd probably need a solicitor to plead your case so it'll unlikely be any cheaper for you in the end.

Nattylou74

Can I pay it off in installments?

It says in the letter that I have to return the notices confirming I was the driver and then I'll have the option to select a court hearing.

motorguy

Nattylou74 wrote: »

Is that per ticket or total? I earn just over 500 a month! It's gonna take me years to pay it off.
What if I go to court? What happens then?

You need to find a full time job. £500 a month isnt going to sustain you living on your own.

neilmcl

Nattylou74 wrote: »

Can I pay it off in installments?

It says in the letter that I have to return the notices confirming I was the driver and then I'll have the option to select a court hearing.

You need to return the s172 form immediately, regardless or you'll find yourself in even more bother.

Nattylou74

Yeah cos it's that easy. Sorry but this is not about my financial status

motorguy

Nattylou74 wrote: »

Can I pay it off in installments?

It says in the letter that I have to return the notices confirming I was the driver and then I'll have the option to select a court hearing.

I would accept it, and find a way to pay it.

There is no point in going to court as you will get the points and the fine as a minimum anyway.

You arent going to lose your licence and it sounds like you have an awful lot more happening in your life that you need to focus on.