Police stopped me - Dangerous driving

GihanM

I was exiting from a round-about and there was a line of vehicle parked (4,5 cars) on the road I exited to. I drove slowly from the right and noticed the police car is behind me. I stopped and the police came to me and asked why I was overtaking all those vehicles. Until the police officers say me, I didn't realize that they are not parked but in the traffic queue.  It was a very narrow road, the car which was most behind didn't even have its break lights on for me to notice that they are in the queue. I explained about my miss-judgement to the police but they said it is dangerous driving. They took my license and they filled in a document and asked me to sign on it (they said it is not mandatory for me to sign, but I signed). They gave me a document called "Traffic Offence Report" printed on a yellow paper, and in the top and the bottom of that documents it's mentioned as "Do not do anything until you receive a communication from police via email or post" It's about month by now but I didn't receive any letter or email. Just bothered about what's going on... ? Anyone ever had similar incidents ? What can I expect to receive ?

SpudGunPaul

GihanM said:

I was exiting from a round-about and there was a line of vehicle parked (4,5 cars) on the road I exited to. I drove slowly from the right and noticed the police car is behind me. I stopped and the police came to me and asked why I was overtaking all those vehicles. Until the police officers say me, I didn't realize that they are not parked but in the traffic queue.  It was a very narrow road, the car which was most behind didn't even have its break lights on for me to notice that they are in the queue. I explained about my miss-judgement to the police but they said it is dangerous driving. They took my license and they filled in a document and asked me to sign on it (they said it is not mandatory for me to sign, but I signed). They gave me a document called "Traffic Offence Report" printed on a yellow paper, and in the top and the bottom of that documents it's mentioned as "Do not do anything until you receive a communication from police via email or post" It's about month by now but I didn't receive any letter or email. Just bothered about what's going on... ? Anyone ever had similar incidents ? What can I expect to receive ?

If convicted a minimum of 12 months driving ban. 

MattMattMattUK

Whilst they may have initially gone for dangerous driving as no accident occurred they may give you the option to plead guilty to driving without due care and attention / careless driving which carries a FPN and points rather than a ban if you previously have a clean license, though it can include a ban, particularly if you already have points on your license or previous convictions. Have you checked that the address on the form is correct, did you provide an email at the time and are you the registered keeper of the vehicle and is the address correct? 

diystarter7

Hi OP
You appear genuine and it can happen just like you said.
From what you said they appear a bit hars but I was not there and IMO,
I'm not sure what was said etc or if you argued etc but!
But, give the local police office a call and tell them you are worried and don't want email/letters to be sent to wrong place, lost in post etc could they tell you what will happn next and take the name or reference of your call
and act as advised

When they do contact you and if you feel they have been unfair, time to contact a solcotr

Years ago as polce guy about 30+ years ago accused me of driving dangerously, TBH, I was driving properly at that
time but if they had stopped me another time as i was young and foolish I would have stuck my hands up and accepted. 
I consulted a solictor the bloke was an idiot and paid 30 quid for the useless consulation.
as i pelased not guilty and challenging it ti wentt o court I denefend myself and expcted to lose.
I won as I said little and stuck to the facts and did not rise to a couple of insult thrown at me by the crowns lawyer.


Best to be aware rather than miss the boat and done by default.

Good luck

SpudGunPaul

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP
You appear genuine and it can happen just like you said.
From what you said they appear a bit hars but I was not there and IMO,
I'm not sure what was said etc or if you argued etc but!
But, give the local police office a call and tell them you are worried and don't want email/letters to be sent to wrong place, lost in post etc could they tell you what will happn next and take the name or reference of your call
and act as advised

When they do contact you and if you feel they have been unfair, time to contact a solcotr

Years ago as polce guy about 30+ years ago accused me of driving dangerously, TBH, I was driving properly at that
time but if they had stopped me another time as i was young and foolish I would have stuck my hands up and accepted. 
I consulted a solictor the bloke was an idiot and paid 30 quid for the useless consulation.
as i pelased not guilty and challenging it ti wentt o court I denefend myself and expcted to lose.
I won as I said little and stuck to the facts and did not rise to a couple of insult thrown at me by the crowns lawyer.


Best to be aware rather than miss the boat and done by default.

Good luck

That's interesting as 30+ years ago it wouldn't have been a dangerous driving charge. 

Car_54

OP, you may hear nothing for some months. 
If the police decide to pursue the dangerous driving charge, they have six months to start court proceedings. They usually take most or all of that time. Since you were stopped at the time of the alleged offence, they don't have to send you anything before then.
Meanwhile, follow the instruction on the Traffic Offence Report: "Do not do anything until you receive a communication from police via email or post."

tacpot12

Have they returned your license to you?

GihanM

MattMattMattUK said:

Whilst they may have initially gone for dangerous driving as no accident occurred they may give you the option to plead guilty to driving without due care and attention / careless driving which carries a FPN and points rather than a ban if you previously have a clean license, though it can include a ban, particularly if you already have points on your license or previous convictions. Have you checked that the address on the form is correct, did you provide an email at the time and are you the registered keeper of the vehicle and is the address correct? 

They wrote down the address in my driving license, which is my current address. They wrote down my email address as well. As I could see, they wrote down everything correct and I'm the registered keeper. My license is clean, but I'm a new driver to the UK, obtained my UK full license about 45 days prior to the date the incident happened, although I've been driving in the UK for about 12 months using the international driving permit - no any offences during this time.

GihanM

tacpot12 said:

Have they returned your license to you?

yes, they did returned the license.

GihanM

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP
You appear genuine and it can happen just like you said.
From what you said they appear a bit hars but I was not there and IMO,
I'm not sure what was said etc or if you argued etc but!
But, give the local police office a call and tell them you are worried and don't want email/letters to be sent to wrong place, lost in post etc could they tell you what will happn next and take the name or reference of your call
and act as advised

When they do contact you and if you feel they have been unfair, time to contact a solcotr

Years ago as polce guy about 30+ years ago accused me of driving dangerously, TBH, I was driving properly at that
time but if they had stopped me another time as i was young and foolish I would have stuck my hands up and accepted. 
I consulted a solictor the bloke was an idiot and paid 30 quid for the useless consulation.
as i pelased not guilty and challenging it ti wentt o court I denefend myself and expcted to lose.
I won as I said little and stuck to the facts and did not rise to a couple of insult thrown at me by the crowns lawyer.


Best to be aware rather than miss the boat and done by default.

Good luck

It is indeed a genuine mistake. There was no oncoming traffic towards me and I was driving slowly in the right side. But I also agree with the fact that Police officers find it's dangerous. I didn't argue, but I just tried to explain the mistake I did. Since they didn't appear to be believing what I'm trying to say, I just stopped and provided them all information they demanded. 

tacpot12 said:

Have they returned your license to you?

yes, they did returned the license.

diystarter7

OP, good luck and please do not take it lying down if its anyhting more than a simple ticking off, etc as you will regret being a victim of a misunderstanding by them.

Do please call and check as per my post and ensure you dont miss out on a letter etc and get done by defualt

Good luck