Possible speeding fine genuine emergency

stevoh

Hi all,

Last night I had to rush my baby son in to hospital due to breathing issues. Its the fourth "blue light" emergency we've had with him this year due to breathing and I was told by the doctors not to mess around when he displays the symptoms he had.

Unfortunately I think I went through a camera whilst above the (London) 20mph speed limit. I was slowing to turn right and wasn't flooring it anyway, but suspect I may have been at around 28-30.

The doctor wrote in the discharge notes that he was admitted with a life threatening condition, and we have his full medical history to reference. The roads were clear as it was 4.30am and there were no pedestrians. 

I do fully understand the consequences of speeding and genuinely adhere to the limits normally, however, when your baby is struggling to breathe you're just thinking about getting him to A&E asap. I'm not sure there's many fathers who would disagree with me on this.

I'm guessing there's no leaway on this, but does anyone know otherwise?

Thanks

Umkomaas

Sorry to hear of the emergencies with which you are having to deal with your son's health. Poor little fellow. My sympathies. 

As we major on private parking tickets here, PePiPoo will be your best bet for (potential) police tickets. If you do receive a ticket, register there but please note that a hotmail address won't work - try using a throwaway gmail account instead if you do have trouble registering and post a new thread; here's your link:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?act=SF&s=&f=5

Have a read through some of the other threads and (ultimately) use the NiP Wizard there before you post your own if you get a penalty charge to get the hang of what information they need from you in your opening post - but as a minimum you will need to post redacted photos/scans of all correspondence you've received from the police (both sides, if appropriate) as they need to see all the small print.

stevoh

Umkomaas said:

Sorry to hear of the emergencies with which you are having to deal with your son's health. Poor little fellow. My sympathies. 

As we major on private parking tickets here, PePiPoo will be your best bet for (potential) police tickets. If you do receive a ticket, register there but please note that a hotmail address won't work - try using a throwaway gmail account instead if you do have trouble registering and post a new thread; here's your link:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?act=SF&s=&f=5

Have a read through some of the other threads and (ultimately) use the NiP Wizard there before you post your own if you get a penalty charge to get the hang of what information they need from you in your opening post - but as a minimum you will need to post redacted photos/scans of all correspondence you've received from the police (both sides, if appropriate) as they need to see all the small print.

Thanks very much!

Half_way

Unfortunately the law doesent make any allowances, the only thing on your side was something about the enforceability of the 20mph limits, and even im not sure if it was only in a few areas.
Likewise for going through red lights etc even with a fire engine or ambulance with blue lights and sirens behind you, cross the stop line to let them pass and face a possible fine.
Pepipoo is the best place for this

dil1976

Half_way said:

Unfortunately the law doesent make any allowances, the only thing on your side was something about the enforceability of the 20mph limits, and even im not sure if it was only in a few areas.
Likewise for going through red lights etc even with a fire engine or ambulance with blue lights and sirens behind you, cross the stop line to let them pass and face a possible fine.
Pepipoo is the best place for this

If the law doesn't make allowances why does it allow you to appeal?

KeithP

dil1976 said:

Half_way said:

Unfortunately the law doesent make any allowances, the only thing on your side was something about the enforceability of the 20mph limits, and even im not sure if it was only in a few areas.
Likewise for going through red lights etc even with a fire engine or ambulance with blue lights and sirens behind you, cross the stop line to let them pass and face a possible fine.
Pepipoo is the best place for this

If the law doesn't make allowances why does it allow you to appeal?

Clearly you can appeal if you are certain you weren't exceeding the speed limit - faulty equipment recording speed wrongly for example.

But this discussion is better placed on Pepipoo. 

dil1976

KeithP said:

dil1976 said:

Half_way said:

Unfortunately the law doesent make any allowances, the only thing on your side was something about the enforceability of the 20mph limits, and even im not sure if it was only in a few areas.
Likewise for going through red lights etc even with a fire engine or ambulance with blue lights and sirens behind you, cross the stop line to let them pass and face a possible fine.
Pepipoo is the best place for this

If the law doesn't make allowances why does it allow you to appeal?

Clearly you can appeal if you are certain you weren't exceeding the speed limit - faulty equipment recording speed wrongly for example.

But this discussion is better placed on Pepipoo. 

Also extenuating circumstances would be one, but again that isn't for us to speculate on.

user1977

dil1976 said:

Half_way said:

Unfortunately the law doesent make any allowances, the only thing on your side was something about the enforceability of the 20mph limits, and even im not sure if it was only in a few areas.
Likewise for going through red lights etc even with a fire engine or ambulance with blue lights and sirens behind you, cross the stop line to let them pass and face a possible fine.
Pepipoo is the best place for this

If the law doesn't make allowances why does it allow you to appeal?

Appeals are for arguing that the law has been incorrectly applied. Unless there's something in law saying that medical emergencies create an exemption for speeding, there's nothing to appeal. Though pointing out the circumstances might make it less likely that a contravention would be pursued in court.

The_Slithy_Tove

Half_way said:

Unfortunately the law doesent make any allowances

Pepipoo is the best place for this

But there is a possible defence (though largely untested). There is sometimes a debate on Pepipoo regarding if the vehicle in question is an ambulance, then there is a defence for the speeding. The challenge is to prove that the car was being used "as an ambulance" and that there was no other alternative, e.g. waiting for a "real" ambulance, and it really was a matter of life or death.

Like has been said, Pepipoo is the place to go.

stevoh

Thanks all.

I’ve checked my dash cam. For some reason it didn’t record my speed at that moment but I clearly slow right down just before the speed cam as there’s a right turn directly  after, I reckon it will be under 30 so 3 points.

I’d challenge any parent in the hierarchy of those making these rules to not do the same if their baby son was struggling to breathe and they’d been quoted a one hour ambulance wait last time it happened, but there you go, I’ll take 3 points on the chin knowing my son is ok.

Think it’s about time someone challenged these laws. 

oldernonethewiser

stevoh said:

Thanks all.

I’ve checked my dash cam. For some reason it didn’t record my speed at that moment but I clearly slow right down just before the speed cam as there’s a right turn directly  after, I reckon it will be under 30 so 3 points.

I’d challenge any parent in the hierarchy of those making these rules to not do the same if their baby son was struggling to breathe and they’d been quoted a one hour ambulance wait last time it happened, but there you go, I’ll take 3 points on the chin knowing my son is ok.

Think it’s about time someone challenged these laws. 

I'm not sure on what basis but you could write to your MP.

I do sympathise, if I was rushing to get my child to hospital and sped or went through red lights I would happily suffer the consequences if the journey was worth it.