Speeding prosecution

[Stupidandworried6]

I have stupidly driven over the speed limit - going 34mph in a 20 zone. I know this is awful and feel dreadful. It was on a country road going from a 60 road into a village in a 20 zone. I wasn’t familiar with the area and didn’t slow down quickly enough. None of this is an excuse and I know how wrong this is.

I’ve received a notice of prosecution in the post today with the information that I may have to go to court and could have a fine of £1000, 6 points and loose my licence. I’ve been online to confirm it’s me and admit the offence.

im really worried about this . I need my car to do my job and have a disabled mum who I have to drive everywhere. I know this is all my fault but does anyone know how likely I am to have to go to court/ loose my lisence etc.

Surely you’ll only lose your licence for that if you already have 6+ points on it? Otherwise it sounds like you just pay the fine and take the points - I don’t know (am NOT a lawyer and have no experience of this) but surely you only go to court if you’re contesting it?

I’m sorry for your stress btw - I am utterly against speeding and have no time for the pro-speed people but I can totally see how your offence happened and can imagine doing the same myself

Was there no option to take a speed awareness course OP? These are often offered for first offences but I don't know if they're offered if you're "too far" over the speed limit.

On the RAC website it suggests you'd be classed as Band B, for going over 30 in a 20mph zone. The punishment would be "Disqualify for 7-28 days OR 4-6 points" plus a fine of "between 75-125% of your weekly income, capped at £1000."

If it goes to a magistrate you can put forward your circumstances and hopefully they'll give you points. It would be harsh for them to disqualify based on what you've said.

Edited to add: my late husband got caught a three times for speeding. He got fine/points each time.

That's harsh for a first offence.

I doubt it will go to court, waste of their time, you'll get a fine and points.

I'd start budgeting for an insurance increase, but other than that try not to worry

Try not to panic. The initial letter is your notice of intended prosecution and your section 172 (the bit you return), the same info goes to anyone caught speeding. They're advising you of the offence and asking you to confirm it was you, this is the point they let you know all of the options - they're not telling you that's definitely what's going to happen, that letter will come in the next couple of weeks. That'll contain either a fixed penalty notice (and possibly the offer of a speed awareness course) or yes possibly a summons to court.

If it's a first offence and you've no other points on your license, the overwhelmingly more likely outcome is you'll be offered a speed awareness course, or to take the three points and pay a £100 fine. It's at the police's discretion to offer a speed awareness course, they're not a guarantee. I think the standard criteria they work on is anything up to 31mph in a 20 zone they'll offer Speed Awareness, so you might not get that option.

I'd be very surprised if this went straight to court, it's typically reserved for very dangerous or reckless offendrs, they're stretched so thin already. I think your most likely outcome given that you're a bit over the threshold for a speed awareness is points and fine.

@2Old2Tango I think the OP was too much over the limit for a speed awareness course.

I sympathise with you OP, there are now a lot of country roads where the speed limit changes very quickly.

If it's a first offence and you've no other points on your license, the overwhelmingly more likely outcome is you'll be offered a speed awareness course, or to take the three points and pay a £100 fine

Not for 36 in a 20 zone.

I've recently got six points. 35 both times in a 30 zone on the same camera in the same week. I've only dealt with the first one because I was so upset the first time that when I got the second one I couldn't deal with it. I'm really embarrassed for a start. I've been driving for thirty years and I've never had a point now I've done it twice.

It's the insurance that's the biggest financial hit.

Don’t worry OP, unless you already have 6 points you won’t lose your license - worst case scenario is 6 points and the fine (which isn’t small, granted, but better than losing your license) I had similar - I was too fast for the speed awareness course and got the same letter (I was doing 55 in a 40) but in the end I got 3 points and £100 fine.
it’ll be fine.

34 in a 20 is too fast for a course but just slow enough for a fixed penalty. You should be offered 3 points/£100 fine. It’s not the end of the world.

That is the standard letter everyone gets , just follow the instructions and reply within the time frame . I'd be surprised if you get more than 3 points and a fine ( about £100 if i remember rightly )

Thank you everyone - all your replies are very useful. I haven’t got any points now (got 3 6 years ago). I e returned all the paperwork so will now just have to wait and see.

Hi
what happened in the end please?? Same thing happened to me today.