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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think speeding fines are a joke?

164 replies

LadyOfTheManor · 07/01/2011 19:03

I just got a letter saying I was speeding-which is fair, I know I was, and I know where the bastarding mobile camera van caught me. However I was doing 4 miles over the speed limit and they have kindly offered me 6 points an £80 fine and a court hearing for prosecution. It used to be 3 points, £60 and a court hearing if you disputed it. I'm so annoyed, do the police have nothing better to do?

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 07/01/2011 20:05

BCBG- that isn't what the police Gwent Police letter is saying.

I'm not blind, I can read and I haven't misread it. But I shall appeal it as I think it's ridiculous and there must be some sort of error...I'm just praying that someone hasn't had points put on my licence (I have many sisters) and this is being treated as a second offence?

OP posts:
cookielove · 07/01/2011 20:06

Kaloki i was pointing out in both my post that there may have not been any speed signs for her to see!!

They stay on for 3 years, you can get them removed after 4 years

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 07/01/2011 20:06

I didn't mean to write police twice.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 07/01/2011 20:07

even a second offence wouldn't mean 6 points just another 3 - and you have to send licence off to get points put on - anything on yours?

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/01/2011 20:07

If you get a court summons they usually decide on the number of points in court, not before, so that is all a bit weird.

altinkum · 07/01/2011 20:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 07/01/2011 20:08

Is it definitely a genuine letter, and not a wind up?

Katz · 07/01/2011 20:10

6 points does seem high but speeding is speeding.

Don't forget to notify your insurer.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 07/01/2011 20:10

No tis clean-that I'm aware of. Yeah I'm not too sure what's going on and as I haven't received a letter like this before I think I'll get in contact with them tomorrow.

Maybe get a pregnant belly strap on/ and or a limp so they take sympathy on me

OP posts:
borderslass · 07/01/2011 20:11

directgov site 4 years

scurryfunge · 07/01/2011 20:11

LOTM, someone could have given your details and the six points may well be due to offences in close succession but someone would have to have sent off your licence for endorsement.

6 points isn't normal, otherwise, I would appeal.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 07/01/2011 20:12

It has the Heddlu (Welsh police) stamp on it. Hmmm, I hope it isn't a bloody wind up. Looks genuine and it has my car reg, and it's a new car, I don't even know the reg from memory.

I'll ring them tomorrow and report back.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 07/01/2011 20:13

Are you sure it doesn't refer to being caught twice on the same camera, on the return journey?

altinkum · 07/01/2011 20:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnneTwacky · 07/01/2011 20:14

I would ask somebody you trust to go through the form with you. You wouldn't be offered a fixed penalty and be told to go to court.

Are they just asking who was driving as failure to supply the info can be 6 points (decided by a court).

If they are just asking for the driver's details you should send them in and then the police will probably offer you a fixed penalty of 3 points and £60 fine, the chance to go to court (the points can go up if you take this option and they find you guilty) or you may also get the chance to do a speed awareness course which will cost more then the fixed penalty but you won't get any points. Not all police forces offer this though.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/01/2011 20:14

Could ask for advice on here

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 07/01/2011 20:14

No because on the way back the van had gone and I said to my friend "I think there's where I got clocked earlier". But the van had disappeared. Unless there was a permanent one lurking on a post nearby (it's usually those my Sat Nav detects...)

OP posts:
BCBG · 07/01/2011 20:15

LOTM - seriously, I'm trying to help. Unless Wales has declared UDI, the penalty for 34 in a 30 attracts 3 points when issued as a fixed penalty (although, as I said, we have the power to impose up to 6 for that speed in court). It is important to distinguish between a Fixed Penalty Notice (which requires you to admit the offence/or name the driver) and the Notice of Impending Prosecution. Are you saying that the letter says you already have 6 points on your licence? If it does, and you believe that to be false then that is a separate matter which does need to be dealt with. Even then, though, you would normally be entitled to a FPN and an additional three points. Normally, a speeding driver will only get directly summonsed to court where there is a risk of disqualification because the minimum penalty the court can impose would take the driver to 12 points.

Can you quote the letter? I am so Hmm I am almost wondering if someone is winding you up....

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 07/01/2011 20:16

Altinkum- That was a joke about my mother. Most of the other posters seemed to gather that, I don't particularly want to be banned.

I'm sorry-how am I not real?

I'm very very remorseful for driving at 34 mph in a 30 zone, not because I broke the law but because of the fine (hence the fining system works).

Either which way, it doesn't reflect a social class of any description-
but thanks for trying with your input :o

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 07/01/2011 20:17

BCBG- I appreciate your help and I'm grateful for it, I'll quickly type the letter on word and copy and paste it over. Give me 5!

OP posts:
borderslass · 07/01/2011 20:17

Usually you have to be going nearly double the limit to even get a court date not 4 miles an hour over.

DiscoDaisy · 07/01/2011 20:19

Isn't there something in the highway code about if there aren't any speed signs then look at the street lights (if there are any) because the distance between them indicates the speed limit?
Also am I right in thinking that insurance companies take points into consideration longer than they appear on someones license. I could be wrong about that though.

fruitstick · 07/01/2011 20:21

DH has recently had all sorts of problems over an old speeding ticket so I have been reading up on it recently.

You would not have been sent a court summons, you would have been sent a request to name the driver.

Unless there has been an error, you should then be offered 3 points and £60 or a speed awareness course.

If you don't name the driver you can be convicted of failure to inform which is 6 points and £1000 fine with court appearance. And some insurance companies won't insure you.

Are you sure this isn't what you have been sent.

borderslass · 07/01/2011 20:22

DiscoDaisy If theres street lights its a 30 zone unless otherwise indicated.

altinkum · 07/01/2011 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.