Contest speeding ticket

TadleyBaggie

If it is a HADECS3 camera, then as part of the evidence will be a photograph of the gantry that was passed showing the prevailing speed limit taken by an auxiliary camera. If you ask for the photographs to help with identification, then all should be revealed. With the older HADECS cameras the status of each gantry sign (i.e. the speed being displayed) would be in an electronic log.

Dave215

Who do I ask for evidence? I presume they sent the first form to my work who named me as the driver which is how they got my address as the car is owned by work (although my work never bothered phoning me). I've now just got a form asking to confirm that I was driving, think it has an option to say it was someone else but nothing about asking for evidence or pleading guilty/ not guilty at this stage.

Car_54

Dave215 said:

Who do I ask for evidence? I presume they sent the first form to my work who named me as the driver which is how they got my address as the car is owned by work (although my work never bothered phoning me). I've now just got a form asking to confirm that I was driving, think it has an option to say it was someone else but nothing about asking for evidence or pleading guilty/ not guilty at this stage.

You can write to the address on the form, or have a look on Google for a phone number

Do NOT ask for "evidence" - they don't have to provide any. But if you ask for photos "to help identify the driver" they will usually oblige.

Whether or not they do, you must name the driver within the 28 days allowed.

Manxman_in_exile

I'm afraid I would be very skeptical that any "speed limit recognition" system currently available would be sufficiently reliable to allow a driver not to take any notice of the prevailing limit.  Can it read temporary road work limit signs for instance? As the OP has found out, it's daft - and quite probably dangerous.

As others have said, ask for photos "to help identify the driver" and don't use the word "evidence".  Depending on the camera system used the photo might show the current limit at the time of the alleged speeding.  Whether you get a photo or not, do not miss the time limit for responding.

FWIW OP, I suspect it's far more likely that your "speed limit recognition" system is unreliable rather than that the speed cameras are wrong, and I'd be surprised if it was worth contesting.

ontheroad1970

Manxman_in_exile said:

I'm afraid I would be very skeptical that any "speed limit recognition" system currently available would be sufficiently reliable to allow a driver not to take any notice of the prevailing limit.  Can it read temporary road work limit signs for instance? As the OP has found out, it's daft - and quite probably dangerous.

As others have said, ask for photos "to help identify the driver" and don't use the word "evidence".  Depending on the camera system used the photo might show the current limit at the time of the alleged speeding.  Whether you get a photo or not, do not miss the time limit for responding.

FWIW OP, I suspect it's far more likely that your "speed limit recognition" system is unreliable rather than that the speed cameras are wrong, and I'd be surprised if it was worth contesting.

I drove a 2015 Mercedes courtesy car that had sign recognition, and yes, it took notice of temporary signs both metal and the electronic ones.  If it can read them it will alert you, unless you get annoyed with the alerts and turn them off.

Car_54

ontheroad1970 said:

I drove a 2015 Mercedes courtesy car that had sign recognition, and yes, it took notice of temporary signs both metal and the electronic ones.  If it can read them it will alert you, unless you get annoyed with the alerts and turn them off

If you can't read the signs, and need a system to alert you, then you shouldn't be driving.

ontheroad1970

Car_54 said:

ontheroad1970 said:

I drove a 2015 Mercedes courtesy car that had sign recognition, and yes, it took notice of temporary signs both metal and the electronic ones.  If it can read them it will alert you, unless you get annoyed with the alerts and turn them off

If you can't read the signs, and need a system to alert you, then you shouldn't be driving.

Did I say I couldn't?  Just for clarity, you may be using that grammar for other reasons, but perhaps it wouldn't come across as personal if you phrased it with someone, rather than 'you'.  Or if you wanted to sound like royalty, you could use 'one'.

TooManyPoints

Well, Dave, if you find out that the limit was properly signed but still want to contest this on the basis that your car's speed limit recognition system can be relied on to a greater degree than a speed measurement device approved by the Home Office, you will have to prove that the speed measurement device cannot be relied upon, not that your car's system can. It will require expert assistance because you turning up and saying "I've got this device in my car and  I know I wasn't speeding" won't cut the mustard. The camera device is presumed to be working properly unless you can prove that it is not. If you're confident of doing that give it a go (but have your cheque book ready because it will cost you more than £1k if you fail (and a lot more than that if the prosecution has to enlist expert help to counter yours). 

My advice is to check the speed limit as recommended above. If it was properly signed, accept the course which will almost certainly be offered, or the Fixed Penalty if you don't fancy that. And ask for a refund on your speed limit recognition device.

AdrianC

"I was looking at my dashboard not the outside world" is really not the best defence against a speeding ticket.

Knapper

Just take the Speed Awareness Course and pay your pound of flesh (£90-£120) depending on region.

It's a huge money making scam and we're stuck with it.   The course is 4 hours of drivel and questionable material but swallow your pride and sit through it and job done.  No points on your license and no conviction.