Failing to produce Insurance and Broken Handbrake

CarUser_2

I got pulled over by the police in December 2007 and have not heard any thing from them. I was stopped for a routine check and police officer noticed my handbrake was damaged, even tho i told him i was waiting for the part to fitted the next day (the part had not arrived due to christmas time) he still gave me a ticket. He asked to see my insurance and as i did not have it on me he gave me a Producer form. As the car aint mine i use temp cover as it insure you on a daily basis. I went to the police station later that week to hand in my documents, but person behind the desk was not happy with the documents as i had printed it off. with temp cover you just get an email with a adobe file which you print off in case you need the document. i told the the officer the only proof i got is this and the bank statement showing i brought the insurance. He noted down that i had failed to produced documents and that was it. He did't say anything else.

As for the handbrake, i was the given the option to pay a fine and take 3 points, i said no i would rather go to court.

Im just thinking about what happens now, its been 3 months and nothing has come through the post. Is this normal ? If i am going to court, im going to contact Norwhich Union and ask for a Proper paper copy of the cover note which they can send through the post.

Advice would be great . Thanks.

raskazz

The insurance issue should be relatively straightforward to sort out.

I really don't think you have a leg to stand on as far as the handbrake is concerned. It doesn't matter whether the part was going to be fitted the next day or the next year, if it was not fit for road use you shouldn't have been driving the car, simple as that.

I don't know the exact process and timescales for court appearances, but I'm sure someone with more expertise will reply on that point.

CarUser_2

TBH, i did not know hand brake cable snapping was an offence carrying 3 points. Also do the police have the right to get into my car and try out the handbrake. I tought they only check the outside of the car.

Happychappy

The police have up to 6 months to lay information for a prosecution, so plenty of time yet, so dont worry, you should get your 15 minutes of fame.

With regards to the police examining your vehicle, yes, they have powers to examine and also had the power to prohibit the vehicle from moving and have it recovered, so wouldnt whinge too much as you have so far got off light.

Regarding your reasons to go to court and why you feel you are not guilty, very odd ? would love to know what defence you will offer. Also dont expect a fine consistent wih the fixed penalty and 3 points, you will also now incur prosecution costs.

The vehicle had defective brakes and you choose to drive it in that state. Your insurance company would certainly have had a different view had you been involved in a collision.

adouglasmhor

Happychappy wrote: »

The vehicle had defective brakes and you choose to drive it in that state. Your insurance company would certainly have had a different view had you been involved in a collision.

You don't use the handbrake for stopping but to stop you moving, sounds a bit over dramatic to me. Shouldn't be friving without one though.

OP get a proper document now don't wait till you are sumonsed or you may find problems arising later.

C_Ronaldo

CarUser wrote: »

TBH, i did not know hand brake cable snapping was an offence carrying 3 points. Also do the police have the right to get into my car and try out the handbrake. I tought they only check the outside of the car.

If you had been involved in accident and you had a faulty hand brake, id hate to think what you would have told the police officers who were first on scene,
what made you think the hand brake cable snapping wasnt important

Inactive

CarUser wrote: »

TBH, i did not know hand brake cable snapping was an offence carrying 3 points. Also do the police have the right to get into my car and try out the handbrake. I tought they only check the outside of the car.

So you park your car on an incline it rolls forwards and mows down a family that is crossing the road.:rolleyes:

Do you not think that the handbrake is part of the MOT?

:rolleyes:

CarUser_2

The car is not mine, its an old car my cousin used to give to his reps. If it was mine i would have had it repaired before i drove it. At that time there was no other way of getting to work so i used his car. Its not that he's careless, he had the car booked in to be repaired but due chirstmas it was delayed by a couple of days. The car also passed its a MOT in the same month. Also who gets prosecuted here? me or owner.

Inactive

Now you have rung a bell, did you not post a similar " incident " a while ago?:rolleyes:

what-a-save

'deja vu' anyone ?

tinkerbell84

indeed

the tyres were bald too

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=662739

sounds like the police should have seized and crushed the car!