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Original poster

Multiple speeding tickets

23 replies

Canyoudigityesyoucan · 16/08/2024 08:29

For the the last few weeks, on 1-3 days a week I’ve been driving through central London for work. I have a clean driving licence.

Yesterday and today, I’ve received two speeding fines in the post from the Met Police, for driving over the 20mph speed limit. One incident was 27mph, and one 28mph.

I genuinely did not realise it was 20mph, but this is no excuse. I had a 30mph limiter on. But, I was careless and should have checked or been more aware, but it was central London, busy, and there was a lot going on and I was not careful with my speed. Looking back today during the drive there’s no real signage and no white lines on the floor of the road. It’s also a camera which captures speeding both ways!

I should be able to get speed school for the first offence. The second one I’ll need to take 3 points.

I am now concerned that on another possible 4 (!) occasions in last ten days I’ve driven down that specific road that I have not kept to 20mph and I’ll get more offences in the post.

I know speeding is inexcusable and I know I’ve been stupid. Nobody needs to tell me that. But does anyone have any experience of anything similar, and if they’ve been able to avoid a ban with mitigating circumstances? I.e multiple offences, same camera, short period of time?

It’s so frustrating to think that 2 weeks of driving this road and I could go from a clean licence to a complete ban if I get did get caught a few times again.

OP posts:
Bellamari · 16/08/2024 08:47

In my experience if you did the crime you do the time! I got 9 points in the space of 3 minutes, due to accidentally driving at 33mph on a 30mph road. I was puzzled when three identical looking fines arrived in the post with the same date and location, but it turned out they were three separate offences at 8.03am, 8.04am and 8.06am. They refused to treat it as one offence and I had to pay all 3 fines and got 9 points.

EntirelyMadeofBosoms · 16/08/2024 09:00

When you say there's no "real" signage, what do you mean by that? Either there are signs, or there aren't. And what white lines are you expecting to see to indicate that it's a 20 zone that aren't there?

If there's genuinely missing signage/road marking, you would be able to appeal it on that basis, but you have to be sure that there are valid grounds for doing so.

You do have my sympathies, 20 is a very slow speed on certain roads and it almost feels unnecessary (I'm thinking here of main roads like Finchley Road, Old Street, Park Lane and so on) and it's easy to wander over the limit a bit on those kinds of roads.

FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 16/08/2024 09:02

Canyoudigityesyoucan · 16/08/2024 08:29

For the the last few weeks, on 1-3 days a week I’ve been driving through central London for work. I have a clean driving licence.

Yesterday and today, I’ve received two speeding fines in the post from the Met Police, for driving over the 20mph speed limit. One incident was 27mph, and one 28mph.

I genuinely did not realise it was 20mph, but this is no excuse. I had a 30mph limiter on. But, I was careless and should have checked or been more aware, but it was central London, busy, and there was a lot going on and I was not careful with my speed. Looking back today during the drive there’s no real signage and no white lines on the floor of the road. It’s also a camera which captures speeding both ways!

I should be able to get speed school for the first offence. The second one I’ll need to take 3 points.

I am now concerned that on another possible 4 (!) occasions in last ten days I’ve driven down that specific road that I have not kept to 20mph and I’ll get more offences in the post.

I know speeding is inexcusable and I know I’ve been stupid. Nobody needs to tell me that. But does anyone have any experience of anything similar, and if they’ve been able to avoid a ban with mitigating circumstances? I.e multiple offences, same camera, short period of time?

It’s so frustrating to think that 2 weeks of driving this road and I could go from a clean licence to a complete ban if I get did get caught a few times again.

There is signage you just haven't noticed it
And if you know you are in the wrong, why try to get out of it
Crime = punishment

Original poster
Canyoudigityesyoucan · 16/08/2024 12:11

Bellamari · 16/08/2024 08:47

In my experience if you did the crime you do the time! I got 9 points in the space of 3 minutes, due to accidentally driving at 33mph on a 30mph road. I was puzzled when three identical looking fines arrived in the post with the same date and location, but it turned out they were three separate offences at 8.03am, 8.04am and 8.06am. They refused to treat it as one offence and I had to pay all 3 fines and got 9 points.

Agree. The fines and points I’ll take on the chin. My worry is if I get two or three more letters then I’m at the max and “totted” and am at 12, meaning a ban.

I hate that I’ve been so careless and this is entirely my own doing but it’s pretty galling to go from a clean licence to a ban in the space of a few mph on a few consecutive days.

OP posts:
Original poster
Canyoudigityesyoucan · 16/08/2024 12:13

FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 16/08/2024 09:02

There is signage you just haven't noticed it
And if you know you are in the wrong, why try to get out of it
Crime = punishment

Show quote history

I’ve looked on Google maps. Signage is there but I didn’t see it. It’s a period of road which goes from a 40 to a 30 to a 20 in very quick succession and I’ve not realised.

There are no dashed white lines on the road as you approach the camera, which normally you see on approach to a camera.

OP posts:
Original poster
Canyoudigityesyoucan · 16/08/2024 12:15

EntirelyMadeofBosoms · 16/08/2024 09:00

When you say there's no "real" signage, what do you mean by that? Either there are signs, or there aren't. And what white lines are you expecting to see to indicate that it's a 20 zone that aren't there?

If there's genuinely missing signage/road marking, you would be able to appeal it on that basis, but you have to be sure that there are valid grounds for doing so.

You do have my sympathies, 20 is a very slow speed on certain roads and it almost feels unnecessary (I'm thinking here of main roads like Finchley Road, Old Street, Park Lane and so on) and it's easy to wander over the limit a bit on those kinds of roads.

It was Cromwell Rd. And annoyingly August summer traffic has been so light, looking at the photos of the offence I can see empty lanes so I’ve not even been “kept” to the speed by other drivers and have just been careless and driven over 20mph. I know it’s not their responsibility to do that but I can imagine when that road is busy at peak times it’s bumper to bumper.

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 16/08/2024 12:24

Wow @Bellamari! Was that three different cameras then?
OP you should know it's 20mph in London- very few streets are more than that and it's usually obvious (like a flyover or something ) if more. Cromwell Rd though - yea I can see how one could speed up a bit on that.
But I agree signs (or lack of) can be frustrating. They turned part of Fulham in to no drive zones for non residents but you don't see the sign till you've turned in to the street, and even if you manage to turn around you still get the fine. It took three fines for me to figure out the streets I could no longer drive through.

tiredandexhausted1995 · 16/08/2024 12:50

I knew a lady who did similar, but 35ish in a 30 as the road was a 40 previously and she’d gone back to the area to see family for a few days. She was able to have her day in court and plead guilty to the judge but asked for leniency on account of it being the same error multiple times over 2/3days.

I think in the end the judge was able to prevent a ban but she ended up with one point short of the ban on her license and was told that any further points for any reason before those ones elapsed would result in a much longer ban than if she took the ban there and then. She did see a solicitor for advice and went with lots of documentation of how a ban would affect her and her family eg she was single parent and had kids to get to nursery/school then to work herself (lived semi rural) and that on public transport she would not be able to get the oldest to school and be in time for work unless she left home at 5:30 each morning due to poor transport timings and routes. I think she did pay the full amount of all the fines and a bit extra for court costs in addition also so be prepared for it to be a large number financially but definitely speak to a professional who’s dealt with similar before as any cost spent seeing them will be priceless. I agree with the sentiment of the above posters in that there needs to be a punishment obviously but I can absolutely understand your perspective and hope you have a good outcome.

You’ll need to fill out the paperwork within x amount of days to return the drivers details so that they can send the letters through to you about the options, it may be prudent to not be as prompt with these and send them nearer the end of the deadline in order to buy yourself more time to see what else comes through and get some advice if you do have as many as you fear.

Original poster
Canyoudigityesyoucan · 16/08/2024 13:53

mondaytosunday · 16/08/2024 12:24

Wow @Bellamari! Was that three different cameras then?
OP you should know it's 20mph in London- very few streets are more than that and it's usually obvious (like a flyover or something ) if more. Cromwell Rd though - yea I can see how one could speed up a bit on that.
But I agree signs (or lack of) can be frustrating. They turned part of Fulham in to no drive zones for non residents but you don't see the sign till you've turned in to the street, and even if you manage to turn around you still get the fine. It took three fines for me to figure out the streets I could no longer drive through.

Agree I should know London speeds. But never ever drive into central London, and just in unfamiliar territory. I know all the 20mph speed limits on my country roads and villages/towns!

Cromwell Road is so annoying as it also has a middle bank/verge where I was caught so it’s laid out like a dual
carriage way. Again no excuses but just absolutely me being careless

OP posts:
Original poster
Canyoudigityesyoucan · 16/08/2024 13:53

tiredandexhausted1995 · 16/08/2024 12:50

I knew a lady who did similar, but 35ish in a 30 as the road was a 40 previously and she’d gone back to the area to see family for a few days. She was able to have her day in court and plead guilty to the judge but asked for leniency on account of it being the same error multiple times over 2/3days.

I think in the end the judge was able to prevent a ban but she ended up with one point short of the ban on her license and was told that any further points for any reason before those ones elapsed would result in a much longer ban than if she took the ban there and then. She did see a solicitor for advice and went with lots of documentation of how a ban would affect her and her family eg she was single parent and had kids to get to nursery/school then to work herself (lived semi rural) and that on public transport she would not be able to get the oldest to school and be in time for work unless she left home at 5:30 each morning due to poor transport timings and routes. I think she did pay the full amount of all the fines and a bit extra for court costs in addition also so be prepared for it to be a large number financially but definitely speak to a professional who’s dealt with similar before as any cost spent seeing them will be priceless. I agree with the sentiment of the above posters in that there needs to be a punishment obviously but I can absolutely understand your perspective and hope you have a good outcome.

You’ll need to fill out the paperwork within x amount of days to return the drivers details so that they can send the letters through to you about the options, it may be prudent to not be as prompt with these and send them nearer the end of the deadline in order to buy yourself more time to see what else comes through and get some advice if you do have as many as you fear.

Thank you for your help and thoughtful advice

A waiting game now to see if any more paperwork comes through, but have sent off first offence for speed school and will hold back on the second fine and pray no more arrive!

OP posts:
Cattery · 16/08/2024 14:20

If other offences take you up to 12 points you will have to go to court

Bellamari · 16/08/2024 14:43

mondaytosunday · 16/08/2024 12:24

Wow @Bellamari! Was that three different cameras then?
OP you should know it's 20mph in London- very few streets are more than that and it's usually obvious (like a flyover or something ) if more. Cromwell Rd though - yea I can see how one could speed up a bit on that.
But I agree signs (or lack of) can be frustrating. They turned part of Fulham in to no drive zones for non residents but you don't see the sign till you've turned in to the street, and even if you manage to turn around you still get the fine. It took three fines for me to figure out the streets I could no longer drive through.

Yes it was 3 different cameras along the length of one road. I tried to appeal and say it should count as 1 offence but they wouldn’t have it.

Then I tried to tell them my speedo was broken and I was driving to the garage at what I thought was an ok speed - was advised to shut up as that was a worse offence! Apparently it was illegal to be driving the car at all with a broken speedo, and I could get £1000 fine and a possible driving ban! So I took the £300 speeding fine and 9 points.

Surfer178 · 23/06/2025 18:14

Oh screw all these people saying “doing the crime equals the punishment” load of bollox….the whole speed cameras, yellow box and average speed check nonsense is all just a cash cow. The police and councils have no other ways to make easy money than to tax on motorists by catching them out, it’s as i said “easy money”.

every road is filled with ridiculous amounts of signs and speed limits. One second it’s 30mph and then 20mph, then it’s yellow boxes and having to time your entry through the box right without someone cutting in from another directionetc etc, its all just money making. it’s an ever increasing amount of information the motorist has to calculate while driving, especially around London. It’s all just trying to deter the motorists to drive on our roads.

Whoever said they got 9 points for 3 different speeds of 30ish mph in 5 minutes is utterly ridiculous. Country is a fucking joke.

Velmy · 23/06/2025 18:24

Surfer178 · 23/06/2025 18:14

Oh screw all these people saying “doing the crime equals the punishment” load of bollox….the whole speed cameras, yellow box and average speed check nonsense is all just a cash cow. The police and councils have no other ways to make easy money than to tax on motorists by catching them out, it’s as i said “easy money”.

every road is filled with ridiculous amounts of signs and speed limits. One second it’s 30mph and then 20mph, then it’s yellow boxes and having to time your entry through the box right without someone cutting in from another directionetc etc, its all just money making. it’s an ever increasing amount of information the motorist has to calculate while driving, especially around London. It’s all just trying to deter the motorists to drive on our roads.

Whoever said they got 9 points for 3 different speeds of 30ish mph in 5 minutes is utterly ridiculous. Country is a fucking joke.

Calm down Clarkson.

thinkofablinkingnamewoman · 23/06/2025 18:30

And zombie Clarkson at that

CarpetKnees · 23/06/2025 18:56

Bellamari · 16/08/2024 08:47

In my experience if you did the crime you do the time! I got 9 points in the space of 3 minutes, due to accidentally driving at 33mph on a 30mph road. I was puzzled when three identical looking fines arrived in the post with the same date and location, but it turned out they were three separate offences at 8.03am, 8.04am and 8.06am. They refused to treat it as one offence and I had to pay all 3 fines and got 9 points.

Wow, that's shocking.

Any 'common sense' viewpoint would see that is one offence.

Surfer178 · 24/06/2025 07:52

Velmy · 23/06/2025 18:24

Calm down Clarkson.

Show quote history

sorry Sadiq did I offend you

Cattery · 24/06/2025 10:08

CarpetKnees · 23/06/2025 18:56

Wow, that's shocking.

Any 'common sense' viewpoint would see that is one offence.

Show quote history

I worked in the camera processing unit and that would be three separate offences therefore three separate fines.

BangersAndGnash · 24/06/2025 16:09

I feel for you OP.

Google maps frequently shows a 30mph limit in 20mph zones, and it is often 20 on big wide clear roads, with big wide pavements etc, and 20mph just feels slow.

And you have people on e-scooters and cyclists overtaking you, and someone hard on your tail, so it feels as if it is a 30 zone.

🤞🏼 that you don’t get more letters.

CarpetKnees · 24/06/2025 17:47

Cattery · 24/06/2025 10:08

I worked in the camera processing unit and that would be three separate offences therefore three separate fines.

Show quote history

Yes, I believe the pp, I was talking about common sense, rather than the way a system has been set up to gain most money

suburburban · 24/06/2025 18:35

Does sound like a money making scam to me but especially if it is on the same road

Cattery · 24/06/2025 20:39

CarpetKnees · 24/06/2025 17:47

Yes, I believe the pp, I was talking about common sense, rather than the way a system has been set up to gain most money

Show quote history

I quite agree.

insomniac1 · 18/07/2025 22:32

@Canyoudigityesyoucanhi OP. What happened with this in the end? Thank you!

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