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Original poster

In trouble, what do I do?

220 replies

Hammondhugh · 28/11/2023 22:08

I, after my family member fell really ill sped to the hospital. I did 30 mph over the limit so 80 in a 50. I could’ve taken the points and called it or taken a ban. I’m asking for a reduced ban in court.
I now need to explain this to my employer and I work in education. I really really don’t want to have to explain this. I’m so embarrassed. What do I do? It’s actually very embarrassing to explain and I work with very intimidating management

OP posts:
wuvoobee · 29/11/2023 06:54

Baffledandalarmed · 29/11/2023 06:15

Just because you work in education doesn’t mean you’re entitled to special treatment. Just because someone was in an ambulance doesn’t give you the right to special treatment.

It’s very sad for you that a relative was taken sick. But 80 in a 50 is disgusting.

The fact you’re being all shy about the full story on why you might be banned and didn’t take the points makes me think you already have points and, actually, are a bit of a wankweasel behind the wheel.

Own up to your mistakes. Tell your employer.

Exactly this!

IMO, because you work in education, it's all the more reason to own up to your actions, no excuses, take the consequences and learn from it.

You are after all in the job of shaping young minds, so it would be a good thing to show integrity and honesty.

What would you say to a child in your charge who did something reckless and dangerous? Lie? Cover it up? I hope not!

wuvoobee · 29/11/2023 06:55

PS: I'm sorry to hear about your relative and hope things are better now.

greencheetah · 29/11/2023 06:56

I have no idea what is going on here…

OP can you just explain whether you already had points on your licence?

Why have you hired a solicitor? Can you not just take the points/ban applied?

If you have to go to court it might be in school holidays so no need to tell management, or you could call in sick? Then just say use public transport, no matter how inconvenient, during the ban. If anyone asks, you don’t have a car right now, COL crisis etc.

Huge drama!!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
Autieangel · 29/11/2023 06:56

For those confused. Op needs to go to court re driving offence . Presumably it's too severe to accept points it she already has points on her licence.

Op has two issues , firstly she need's to request a days absence, as she works in a school it's not as straightforward as put annual in.

And secondly she is unsure wether school will find out at a later date.

Op ultimately if you lie and they find out later you are far more likely to lose your job. You need to tell your head. Explain what happened.

GreatGateauxsby · 29/11/2023 06:57

I still don’t get why you don’t take the points? It’s 12 points to get banned…
or are you a new driver???

if you need to go to court why you can’t just say “I have to attend court. My X had a heart attack/broke their back/whatever. I was out of my mind with worry and in shock and got a fine for speeding behind the ambulance to get to hospital.”
I just don’t get what’s embarrassing about that…

PersephonePomegranate23 · 29/11/2023 06:59

For those confused. Op needs to go to court re driving offence . Presumably it's too severe to accept points it she already has points on her licence.

Exactly. Which implies she's a shit driver and shouldn't be on the road.

McSteamyorMcdreamy · 29/11/2023 07:00

80 in a 30?! Sheesh!

Straight to court in my county and you most certainly wouldn't have been offered points! You must have an extremely lenient bench!

You can plead exceptional hardship, buy you WILL have to tell your employer due to vetting rules as no matter what it is a conviction.

alnbewests · 29/11/2023 07:01

McSteamyorMcdreamy · 29/11/2023 07:00

80 in a 30?! Sheesh!

Straight to court in my county and you most certainly wouldn't have been offered points! You must have an extremely lenient bench!

You can plead exceptional hardship, buy you WILL have to tell your employer due to vetting rules as no matter what it is a conviction.

You haven't read the OP correctly

Matronic6 · 29/11/2023 07:04

Or just call in sick on the court day.

sparklefresh · 29/11/2023 07:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Some kind of lawyer or something

AngelAurora · 29/11/2023 07:06

So you already lied on here OP, you said you were following the Ambulance, but on another post you stated you were not following the Ambulance as you had to get your stuff together?

I think you have points on said licence already, and you know you will get more and probably be banned.

CwmYoy · 29/11/2023 07:08

But she was following the ambulance just not right behind it. No need to name call.

OldCrone23 · 29/11/2023 07:09

I work in HR, the offence will definitely show up on the Enhanced DBS, your solicitor is wrong.
We had one returned Not Clear for a similar offence this week (Driving Ban after Dangerous Driving). This employee had been sensible enough to meet with her line manager at the time, a plan was put in action that she would still be able to work without being able to drive. This was on a trial basis and it did work out and she is still employed with us. But when her DBS was renewed recently it was there.
If the recent DBS was the first time we had heard of it, it would have been a different story.
You have to tell your management OP

OldCrone23 · 29/11/2023 07:11

Your solicitor is probably thinking of a Basic DBS, (rather than Enhanced) - it might not show on that

Conkersinautumn · 29/11/2023 07:13

I did a long post about why driving behind an ambulance carries extra risks that you're not trained for. But the point was all you're doing by saying is you drove recklessly, it's not going to ellicit sympathy in court. Road use is about safety of others, not being too upset to recognise dangers.

Immasucker · 29/11/2023 07:20

.

Blipeuy · 29/11/2023 07:20

You drove in a heightened emotional state 30mph over the speed limit. Irrespective of the circumstances I hope you lose your licence.

MargaretThursday · 29/11/2023 07:20

I was witness to an accident where a gentleman was rushing to the hospital because he'd had a call to say his wife was dying.
He was not speeding but was totally unaware of anything else.
Please anyone in that situation get someone else to drive or a taxi.
He was lucky not to kill himself and others.

Shakeylegs · 29/11/2023 07:21

I haven’t read all the replies, so apologies if this has been explained already, but I am a magistrate who deals with speeding all the time. This is what will happen if you go to court:

  • The case will be explained and you/your lawyer will put your side across. You have some mitigation but not much.
  • Doing 80 in a 50 will get you either a Band C fine (1.5 times your weekly salary) or a short ban, plus 6 points. It’s up to the magistrates what they decide.
  • If they decide to ban you, or if you get the points and it takes you to 12 or more so that you’d be due for a ban for rotting up your points, you can plead ‘exceptional hardship’. This has to be more than just ‘A ban means I can’t work’. Stuff like ‘My kids can’t get to school’ or ‘My elderly parents depend on me to get to the doctors’ is more likely to work. But again it’s up to the magistrates.
  • If your plea works, they won’t ban you, but you will still get the fine and the points. And you can only make the plea once so if you get more points you can’t use the same reason again not to get banned.
Nowherenew · 29/11/2023 07:23

I would just be honest and explain that you were doing over the speed limit.

I wouldn’t say how much over the limit you were doing as people will rightly judge you for it.

I doubt they will ask.

TheAlchemistElixa · 29/11/2023 07:24

Electricconfusion · 29/11/2023 00:16

I would probably speed after an ambulance also. It is understandable.

I wouldn’t get into the specifics with work. If they pry just say ‘too fast’. I wasn’t focusing on the speedometer. I was focusing on the ambulance and driving.

Which is true. No one drives 80mph in a 50 without killing yourself or someone else whilst focusing on a speedometer. It sounds like you were VERY focused on driving.

In a way it’s quite impressive. Shame you will have these points as perhaps you should go into professional driving. I hope your family member was ok.

There is nothing “impressive” about it. Don’t be so silly.

oakleaffy · 29/11/2023 07:24

80 mph in a 50 zone ...That's just nuts.

Theimpossiblegirl · 29/11/2023 07:25

I'm a teacher. Several of us have had speeding tickets, and someone had to go to court (telephone call).
I don't know if you're obliged to tell your head, I did, but it doesn't affect your enhanced disclosure so don't worry about that aspect.

GreatGateauxsby · 29/11/2023 07:31

you can plead ‘exceptional hardship’. This has to be more than just ‘A ban means I can’t work’. Stuff like ‘My kids can’t get to school’ or ‘My elderly parents depend on me to get to the doctors’ is more likely to work. But again it’s up to the magistrates.

The leniency and lack of rigour in sentencing makes for such depressing reading….

TheAlchemistElixa · 29/11/2023 07:34

For those of you saying that you understand the reasons, and we should all be lenient (one reply even said she was IMPRESSED?!?) have you missed the OP’s update?

the OP wasn’t driving immediately behind a speeding ambulance, hoping against hope to get there at the same time. They stayed back at home “gather some stuff”, then jumped in the car and SPED AT 80mph IN A 50mph ZONE to get to the hospital!!!!! THE AMBULANCE WAS LONG GONE. Even following it directly would have been no excuse.

And now they’ve been completely evasive with us, not confessing any proper details, and are hoping to lie their way out of it with their employer. For no good reason whatsoever. And it sounds like they’d already have huge numbers of points for previous offences.

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