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Original poster

Stopped for using mobile phone while driving

176 replies

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:20

Regular mumsnetter name changed for this as I'm very ashamed of myself.

I was driving, queuing in traffic (so not moving), looked at my phone for no good reason, I know this is illegal and irresponsible. I didn't notice there was a police officer on the other side of the road and he obviously pulled me over, took my license details and logged the offence. He asked why I was using my phone and I had to say I had no good reason, I didn't.

Could anyone advise me please what is likely to happen? I have looked it up and it seems that the minimum penalty is 6 points and a £200 fine, so I assume I'll get that. Is there a risk of further prosecution/penalties?

Any advice most welcome and feel free to tell me what an irresponsible idiot I am, I know I am but deserve a kicking tbh.

OP posts:
ClumsyBastard · 27/12/2024 16:23

Listen, stop beating yourself up. You made a mistake, you've taken/will take the consequences.

Give yourself grace, everyone makes mistakes.

Sorry, I don't know about the legal ramifications.

ByHeartyCyanMentor · 27/12/2024 16:25

Not much you can do now, you know you shouldn’t have touched it - so you pay the fine take the points and don’t do it again.

WinterMorn · 27/12/2024 16:26

I wish we could change the law so that this was a 3 month instant ban.

Original poster
DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:27

WinterMorn · 27/12/2024 16:26

I wish we could change the law so that this was a 3 month instant ban.

Helpful 🙄

OP posts:
CocoapuffPuff · 27/12/2024 16:27

Be grateful that you've had this now, whilst you weren't actually driving, and that (I presume) you'll never do anything like that again. This is a blessing, ultimately. My friend was killed by a driver who was sending a text message at 50mph, and who quite literally drove right through him. He was on a bike, lit up like a Christmas tree and she " didn't see him". She did jail time. She killed another human being. You're in a very lucky, if expensive, situation so count your blessings and don't do it again.

SLRUS · 27/12/2024 16:29

It will be six points and a fine as you've mentioned. Only if you have points on your licence are you at risk of going to court for a ban otherwise that will be the end of matters.

Bromptotoo · 27/12/2024 16:29

Assume you had the phone in your hand and not in a clip attached to the car.

IIRC insurers don't like that offence and, assuming you're charged and pay the fine I think your premium might go up with a bang.

HermioneWeasley · 27/12/2024 16:29

Honestly in stationary traffic it’s a complete overreaction and trivialises cases like causing death by texting at 50mph

DaveWatts · 27/12/2024 16:31

You'll probably get a fixed penalty notice in the post, and six points. Pay the fee and that'll be the end of it. If you don't get offered the penalty then you'll get a notice of prosecution instead in the post, you just return the forms they send you and you don't have to go to court. End result will be pretty similar though, points and a small fine.

WinterMorn · 27/12/2024 16:31

@DrivingOffence what's that supposed to mean? That's my view and to be honest, given that you were totally in the wrong without any justification, it's what you should be given. There is absolutely no need to use a phone whilst in control of a car unless there is some sort of emergency.

Original poster
DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:31

CocoapuffPuff · 27/12/2024 16:27

Be grateful that you've had this now, whilst you weren't actually driving, and that (I presume) you'll never do anything like that again. This is a blessing, ultimately. My friend was killed by a driver who was sending a text message at 50mph, and who quite literally drove right through him. He was on a bike, lit up like a Christmas tree and she " didn't see him". She did jail time. She killed another human being. You're in a very lucky, if expensive, situation so count your blessings and don't do it again.

I am so sorry to hear about the death of your friend. That is awful. You are absolutely right, it is a good thing that I have had this (deserved) kick up the bum to ensure I never do this again. I don't know how I would live with myself if I had hurt somebody.

OP posts:
Original poster
DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:32

Bromptotoo · 27/12/2024 16:29

Assume you had the phone in your hand and not in a clip attached to the car.

IIRC insurers don't like that offence and, assuming you're charged and pay the fine I think your premium might go up with a bang.

Yes I'm sure it will go up a lot. Not looking forward to telling DH, he will (rightly) be pissed off with me.

OP posts:
ShanghaiDiva · 27/12/2024 16:33

HermioneWeasley · 27/12/2024 16:29

Honestly in stationary traffic it’s a complete overreaction and trivialises cases like causing death by texting at 50mph

The penalty needs to be harsh as it is irresponsible and dangerous behaviour. How does it trivialise causing death by texting at 50 mph which presumably results in points, fine and a custodial sentence?

Original poster
DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:35

ClumsyBastard · 27/12/2024 16:23

Listen, stop beating yourself up. You made a mistake, you've taken/will take the consequences.

Give yourself grace, everyone makes mistakes.

Sorry, I don't know about the legal ramifications.

Thank you for this.

OP posts:
Original poster
DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:36

SLRUS · 27/12/2024 16:29

It will be six points and a fine as you've mentioned. Only if you have points on your licence are you at risk of going to court for a ban otherwise that will be the end of matters.

Thank you. I have no points on my licence so hopefully won't have to go to court. And will obviously have to be extremely careful and responsible when driving from now on to avoid any more points.

OP posts:
CocoapuffPuff · 27/12/2024 16:36

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:31

I am so sorry to hear about the death of your friend. That is awful. You are absolutely right, it is a good thing that I have had this (deserved) kick up the bum to ensure I never do this again. I don't know how I would live with myself if I had hurt somebody.

Show quote history

If you can bear it, share your experience with as many of your friends as you can. You've learned an expensive lesson. Maybe next time, someone you know will kill another person. You might be able to prevent that, just by making folk think twice. It's horribly humiliating, I know, but better red cheeked for a couple of months than 5 years in jail.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-33347363

2025willbemytime · 27/12/2024 16:37

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:27

Helpful 🙄

Show quote history

But hopefully it would make people think better if it was.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 27/12/2024 16:38

HermioneWeasley · 27/12/2024 16:29

Honestly in stationary traffic it’s a complete overreaction and trivialises cases like causing death by texting at 50mph

Hard disagree. If you’re in charge of a vehicle, moving or not, you need to be paying full attention to the road. I often see drivers slowly creeping forward in queuing traffic, using their peripheral vision, which is not good enough.

bugalugs45 · 27/12/2024 16:42

I'll tell you my positive story on this ..
I was pulled over for very same offence several years ago now , probably 5 or 6 , so rules may well have changed but...
I was setting my sat nav app, no excuse of course .
The police officer had me sit in his car, read me the riot act , took all my details , asked to see licence etc . I cooperated fully , as like you I was mortified .
Told me I ' could ' receive ' up to 6 points & £X fine , so I waited and waited , to this day I never heard anything, so I was super lucky .
It's perfectly possible that you won't either , fingers crossed crossed for you

Original poster
DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:45

bugalugs45 · 27/12/2024 16:42

I'll tell you my positive story on this ..
I was pulled over for very same offence several years ago now , probably 5 or 6 , so rules may well have changed but...
I was setting my sat nav app, no excuse of course .
The police officer had me sit in his car, read me the riot act , took all my details , asked to see licence etc . I cooperated fully , as like you I was mortified .
Told me I ' could ' receive ' up to 6 points & £X fine , so I waited and waited , to this day I never heard anything, so I was super lucky .
It's perfectly possible that you won't either , fingers crossed crossed for you

Thank you, but I think he logged it all officially, spent ages inputting my driving licence info, took photos of the car for some reason (checking car reg?), I asked what would happen next and he said I'd get a letter in the post.

OP posts:
Gymmum82 · 27/12/2024 16:46

You may not receive anything. I had the same as you. Stopped at lights and picked up my phone. My car does have automatic stop start though and I think the law is that you can’t touch your phone if the engine in running, which mine was not, so this may have prevented the officer being able to do anything. Anyway I never received any fine or points

Original poster
DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:48

Gymmum82 · 27/12/2024 16:46

You may not receive anything. I had the same as you. Stopped at lights and picked up my phone. My car does have automatic stop start though and I think the law is that you can’t touch your phone if the engine in running, which mine was not, so this may have prevented the officer being able to do anything. Anyway I never received any fine or points

Having just read up on it, the stop/start thing is irrelevant. You have to be safely parked with the engine off to use your phone. Sounds like you were just lucky.

OP posts:
DepartingRadish · 27/12/2024 16:49

Gymmum82 · 27/12/2024 16:46

You may not receive anything. I had the same as you. Stopped at lights and picked up my phone. My car does have automatic stop start though and I think the law is that you can’t touch your phone if the engine in running, which mine was not, so this may have prevented the officer being able to do anything. Anyway I never received any fine or points

This is incorrect.

www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law

bugalugs45 · 27/12/2024 16:52

Can't reply to my original post, but just to say the police officer took all my details too. Gave me a paper copy of everything ( that carbon paper that makes several copies ).
Don't remember him taking photos of my car but did ask me to confirm the registration number and that i was the registered keeper

bluebalou · 27/12/2024 16:55

I know it's not helpful but you just can't get away with doing it anymore and I for one am glad, the new cameras now can see into your car, even when stationary, if it's urgent pull over if not it can wait, too many deaths caused by this, just take the rap and don't ever be tempted again.

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