Driving offence

[raspberrymilkshake]

Hi , just wondering if anyone has jumped a red light when driving & been given the opportunity to take an awareness course
should I notify my insurance
How long does it stay on file
Thankyou

Not the same offence but I believe it's the same penalty- I was waiting at a school crossing and my foot slipped off the clutch, I went forward slightly and stalled, the lollipop lady reported me. It was called something like not complying with traffic signal.
I told the insurance company, there was no increase but they put it on file. I got 3 points on my licence and wasn't offered a course. £80 fine.

Are you 100% sure there’s a camera there? if there is , you may be offered to attend the course if you didn’t attend a different one in the past 3 yrs . You only need to notify the insurance if you lose points not if you attend an awareness course

I’ve been offered a course , it’s booked I’m just wondering if it stays on file for 3 years
Thankyou

You do not need to notify your insurers.

Yes, the police keep a record. You are only allowed one awareness course in three years, so they need to make sure you get a fine if you offend again.

Thankyou so they basically keep it on file for 3 years ?

Yes.

If you're caught for a similar offence, or speeding, in the next three years you won't be offered a course. Fine and points.

You only need to tell the insurer if they ask. For a while one large insurer, Admiral and it's co-brands, did ask and bumped up their quotes based on the answers.

Thankyou

That’s not true. It’s only the same course you can’t attend within 3 years. If the OP gets caught speeding in the next 3 years then they’re eligible for a Speed Awareness Course (within the speed threshold of course).

That wasn't what the paperwork after my most recent encounter with Northants Police's camera said. A fully deserved one. I knew the camera lurked there from time to time AND was flashed a warning from a car coming the other way and still didn't get under 35 or whatever the trigger point is.

Maybe the rules have changed. At one time there was no central database so I got a course for speeding in Cornwall after doing a course for a red light offence in Leicestershire. On that occasion the wording was ambiguous and I applied for a Speed Awareness course expecting to be binned off as a previous offender but I was not.

This is not laid down in law, so the criteria vary from police force to police force, although most follow guidance issued by the National Police Chief Council. This guidance splits the courses available into two types - speeding and others. Their guidance is that you cannot attend a similar course within 3 years, so if you have attended a non-speeding course, you are no longer eligible for non-speeding courses, but you are still eligible for speeding courses. However, this guidance is not binding. It is open to a police force to say that you can only attend one awareness course of any type within 3 years. I would not assume that attending a non-speeding awareness course means you will be offered an awareness course if you are caught speeding.