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AIBU?

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Original poster

Has anyone here ever challenged a speeding fine? What do you think of this?

80 replies

Laiste · 01/02/2023 14:38

Got letter today asking for confirmation of driver for offence of doing 36 in a 30 mph area.

It was only 2 days ago, the police van sometimes lurks on a particular spot beside the lane as you enter the next village to ours. The van's easy to see from a distance and i remember seeing it and thinking - oh there's the police van. The lane is national speed limit (60 for rural road) and I was already slowing down for the village (i don't go over 45 ish on this stretch as it's bumpy) but glanced at my speed to double check and made sure i went into the village and past the van at about 25/28pmh.

So - got this letter and couldn't understand it. Gone on the police website to check photos and the photo is taken pointing up the lane, with me driving towards the camera, and in the foreground is the 30mph sign and i'm still 10/15 meters away from it. Slowing down.

... i mean, i would have been doing under 30 as i past the sign., and then the van.

What do you think? Should i challenge it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Laiste · 01/02/2023 15:56

TheOrigRights · 01/02/2023 15:54

I did an online course for an infringement made at the end of Oct.
It was 3hrs long, including a break. Just 4 other offenders and 2 people taking the course.
It was very, very well done and very useful.

Show quote history

Ah ok. Was it like a zoom meeting?

OP posts:
Hellsmovie · 01/02/2023 15:58

Ironically it will probably be a ZOOM meeting

Neededanewuserhandle · 01/02/2023 15:58

OneTC · 01/02/2023 15:12

30 repeaters are still pretty uncommon, although they do exist now. 30 used to be the only sign that didn't have repeaters

30 only has repeaters if there are no street lamps, which is why 30 repeaters are uncommon and always have been.

Useit · 01/02/2023 15:58

DH did one about a year ago, it was either Zoom or Teams, you have to be in the room alone so make sure you have any childcare if needed, and somewhere quiet to do it

Original poster
Laiste · 01/02/2023 15:59

Hellsmovie · 01/02/2023 15:58

Ironically it will probably be a ZOOM meeting

OH ... ha ha 🙄😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Laiste · 01/02/2023 16:02

Useit · 01/02/2023 15:58

DH did one about a year ago, it was either Zoom or Teams, you have to be in the room alone so make sure you have any childcare if needed, and somewhere quiet to do it

Ok, cheers for this info.

3 hours alone in this house is hard to organise ...

But, now i'm an offender (yikes) - well - i'll have to suck it up.

OP posts:
Oddbutnotodd · 01/02/2023 16:02

Is it £100 still?

WarmSausageTea · 01/02/2023 16:07

It’s worth doing the course if you can; cost-wise it’s about the same as the fine, but no points on your licence, and while you should tell your insurers, as I understand it, they generally don’t take any action.

TakeMeToKernow · 01/02/2023 16:11

@Laiste wait, what, there are 30 signs pointing BOTH ways?

LegodOut · 01/02/2023 16:11

So where is the 30 sign positioned coming into the village? Your latest posts imply it's the 30 sign in your first photo, but double-sided? For the fine to stick, surely you'd need an earlier 30 sign that you ignored....

MadeForThis · 01/02/2023 16:13

I would double check that the initial 30 sign before the photo wasn't obscured. It doesn't sound like you saw it. Or know where the 30 actually starts.

TakeMeToKernow · 01/02/2023 16:13

OP, are you certain some tosser hasn’t spun that sign around? Your streetview looks very much like a road which isn’t a 30!

TakeMeToKernow · 01/02/2023 16:19

OP, I was on the Goat Man thread and now I’m amusing myself with the idea that it’s back and is messing with road signs!

NDerbys31 · 01/02/2023 16:27

Have to agree with the previous poster. The image suggests you are in the 30 zone. Remember, street lights less than 200 m apart can also indicate a 30 zone too.
Can't see this needing to cause you any great concern, it may only end up in a speed awareness course in the end?
Good luck with whatever you choose to do

MMAMPWGHAP · 01/02/2023 16:31

Top tip. There are lots of providers of the online course. You can choose. There is a list of providers but no prices, you have to check each one to get the price. When I did it Hartlepool was the cheapest and Kent the most expensive. About 25% difference in those prices too.

MissMaple82 · 01/02/2023 16:33

Laiste · 01/02/2023 15:50

Ooh really? That would be handy.

Missing the point of thread, but the google st view was from 2009 and everything looks so much nicer back then. Apart from the fact that it was sunny! The verges of the village is all mowed nicely and there were hardly any potholes!

Show quote history

They have always done them online. I did an online one way way before the pandemic

bloodywhitecat · 01/02/2023 16:34

Do you have a dashcam?

TheOrigRights · 01/02/2023 16:35

3 hours alone in this house is hard to organise ...

If you attend in-person it'll take more than 3hrs (unless you happen to have a venue very nearby).

I wfh some have all the tech, just had to take leave to do it.
And yes it was Zoom - I hadn't made that link!

TheOrigRights · 01/02/2023 16:41

MissMaple82 · 01/02/2023 16:33

They have always done them online. I did an online one way way before the pandemic

Show quote history

Really? I'm surprised to hear that. I thought they were only introduced during the pandemic.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 01/02/2023 16:41

MMAMPWGHAP · 01/02/2023 16:31

Top tip. There are lots of providers of the online course. You can choose. There is a list of providers but no prices, you have to check each one to get the price. When I did it Hartlepool was the cheapest and Kent the most expensive. About 25% difference in those prices too.

That also enables you to choose a date and time that suit you too - I offended south of London, live in Manchester, and did my speed awareness course via Chester constabulary as their schedule suited me best.

Useit · 01/02/2023 16:42

IIrc there is a selection of dates to choose from for the courses but I would go back and check the signs, driving under 30 of course in case there is something awry.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 01/02/2023 16:43

MissMaple82 · 01/02/2023 16:33

They have always done them online. I did an online one way way before the pandemic

Show quote history

DH did an in-person one about twelve years ago, no option of online, not that anybody had heard of Zoom or Teams back then. (I appreciate that 12 years might class as ancient history to some Grin )

Neededanewuserhandle · 01/02/2023 16:45

TakeMeToKernow · 01/02/2023 16:11

@Laiste wait, what, there are 30 signs pointing BOTH ways?

Repeaters

2bazookas · 01/02/2023 16:57

They probably have more than a stills photo

I got a polite call at home (UK) from Australian police about my adult son's speeding fine in a hire car in Australia. DS was by then in New Zealand and he's a careful driver, so I suspected this might be a scam. The cop emailed me the video from the speed camera... and sure enough, the speeding driver's face was unmistakeably DS.

PuddlesPityParty · 01/02/2023 17:03

Oh yeah I’d never solely rely on my maps - it’s just in case I can’t see a sign / unsure! The roads round me are a bit weird, Apple Maps is usually right.