Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 21 2014, 08:49 AM

Recently I was flashed going through Woolhampton.

What I would like to ask is what happens next.

• What is the fine for speeding in a 30 (I wasn't going double or more than the limit)
• How long does it typically take to get the notification through the post.

I realise that most of you are impeccable drivers and will not have the experience to pass on, but perhaps there's some closet boy racers who might know.

Posted by: On the edge Jun 21 2014, 08:57 AM

The experience of 'a friend' suggests it's about two weeks, but if you weren't much over, you might be OK. My 'friend' was touched for £60 and three points. Its all too easy, specially where the road looks as if it's good for more than 30mph. Anyway, I hope your speedo is out and you nudge under the margin! Good luck.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 21 2014, 09:03 AM

I've got no excuse, I just wasn't paying enough attention to my speed. I was slowing down but didn't break; my car's engine breaking is crap. I was seduced by it being at night and an empty road. Mind you, I was coming from Reading and the camera is rather obscured (but not enough for mitigation) compared to the one at the Newbury end which stand out like a soar thumb and acts as a good reminder.

£60.00 will be bloody painful at this point in time!

Posted by: Cognosco Jun 21 2014, 09:17 AM

Cheer up at least your contribution may go towards a good cause eh?

Posted by: Turin Machine Jun 21 2014, 09:26 AM

If, if you were going fast enough for prosecution, sixty squids and three points. You may be offered speed awareness session instead. If so take it. I believe they have to inform you within 14 days with a notice of intended prosecution.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 21 2014, 09:44 AM

How long do I have to pay?

Posted by: Turin Machine Jun 21 2014, 10:16 AM

Any fine imposed by the Court would normally be subject to immediate payment. However, if you request time to pay, it will normally be granted if you can show an inability to make immediate payment. The Court will set the date by which payment should be made in full (i.e. within 28 days) or detail a payment schedule (e.g. £100 per month).

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 21 2014, 10:25 AM

Surely there must be a time period to pay: I could easily be going on holiday for example?

Posted by: Turin Machine Jun 21 2014, 10:36 AM

I think it that's the case you will not be able to accept a fixed penalty, you will need to ask the magistrates for time to pay. However, if you do go in front of the beak you risk having a higher penalty imposed.

Posted by: x2lls Jun 21 2014, 12:39 PM

In which case you can use the phone to pay. You will, when the paperwork comes through,
be shown the different methods of payment available

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 21 2014, 12:53 PM

I'm not worried about the method of payment, only that there would be a time limit to pay. I could easily be on holiday if or when the letter turns up.

Posted by: nerc Jun 21 2014, 07:31 PM

If you can afford to go on holiday then you can afford the fine or the Speed awareness course.
You would have 28 days to pay or deny/challenge the fine.

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 21 2014, 08:26 PM

You still have to pay to go on the course and probably loose a half days pay in the bargain. The speed awareness is run by an independent group but it is not a cheap way out other than you don't get points which means you don't get a penalty from your insurance company.

I had an Isuzu light crewcab truck with bigger than normal wheels on it. I was pinged by the mobile camera in Monks Lane doing 30mph on my speedo but it was actually 34mph as I found to my cost. Whilst I still retained my clean licence, I did the half day and got a communal talking to with the other participants then had to sit in front of a screen and carry out stupid tasks. Interesting that the Indian lady sitting alongside me hardly spoke English and had never operated a keyboard and screen in her life. She passed the course though.

Please feel free to comment MM.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 21 2014, 08:38 PM

WHAT IS UP WITH SOME PEOPLE... I'M NOT MOANING ABOUT AFFORDING THE FINE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS INDISCRIMINATE AND HAS NO BASIS ON THE ABILITY TO PAY, THE SEVERITY OF THE CRIME, OR THAT IT IS A REGRESSIVE PENAL SYSTEM, I WAS WONDERING WHY I WOULD NOT HAVE TIME TO PAY IT.


AND AS FOR AFFORDING TO GO ON HOLIDAY, WHO'S TO SAY I AM PAYING FOR IT, OR EVEN IF I DID, HOW LONG I HAD SAVED UP FOR IT, OR THE REASONS WHY?

The speed awareness is just money making scam, as are most speeding cameras, but I don't deny responsibility.

Posted by: On the edge Jun 21 2014, 08:59 PM

AndyC, appreciate the problem, in my case exactly the same happened. I found a polite chat with the admin. staff in the fixed penalty office helped - seriously.

Posted by: Turin Machine Jun 21 2014, 10:06 PM

Yeah, seriously, I wouldn't worry too much, you may not hear anymore about it, if you do find It's going to be a problem vis a vis timing, just phone them up I'm sure you're not the first on in this position.

Meanwhile, just wait till the new legislation gets going where speeding will be punished much more heavily in terms of fines. The motorist on e again becomes the government milch cow.

If you can, go on the course, saves you points which will cost on your insurance.

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 21 2014, 10:16 PM

Sounds like you were to me.

I think that some of the answers on here have made the incorrect assumption that the offence will be automatically dealt with by a magistrate. That is not the case unless you wish that to happen. You will get a fixed penalty notice sent to the owner of the vehicle who will be required to disclose who was driving the vehicle at that time. I think, but don't quote me, that the vehicle owner must reply within 28 days. The next step is that the fixed penalty notice will be sent to the driver, disclosed by the owner who then has 28 days (?) to accept the statutory charge, attend a magistrates court or if offered, book with the speed awareness course. In the event that a totting up procedure will take the driver over the points limit and result in a possible loss of licence that can only be dealt with through the Magistrates court.

If you are out of the country or away from your home address and can prove it to the satisfaction of the issuing body for the fixed penalty notice they have discretionary powers to cancel any late or non disclosure. You cannot use that as an excuse not to declare if you are still collecting mail at the registered address however.

Does that answer your questions.

Posted by: Strafin Jun 21 2014, 10:50 PM

I'd be surprised if you ever hear about this again, if you don't hear within 14 days you are pretty much safe. If it takes longer than that you can appeal, I did once but I hadn't registered the vehicle apparently so to be fair it was my fault!

I think the old style cameras have to have film in them and don't think they tend to worry too much about refilling them these days.

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 22 2014, 06:46 AM

That's good. You must stay together when slowing down!!


That's nasty, but I know a good few mechanics who could mend it for you if you want!!

Posted by: gel Jun 22 2014, 07:02 AM

Some insurers now ask, aside from usual question on convictions, whether you have attended any speed awareness courses,
so I reckon they'll use that to justify a higher premium.

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 22 2014, 07:33 AM

Surely the fact that one has attended one of these courses should REDUCE premiums??

Posted by: Turin Machine Jun 22 2014, 08:37 AM

Cmon, this is an insurance company we're talking about.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 22 2014, 10:43 AM

nerc was replying to...


A painful cost is not a matter of not affording.

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 22 2014, 12:34 PM

Probably right, but from what you were bleating on about, and we can, unlike a conversation down the pub, hope to draw a conclusion from what you are saying and perhaps what you are not saying. All of your posts were on about time to pay. That normally indicates that one is boracic. However, now you have let us know that you will be on a two month world cruise, we can drop the sympathy vote.

Posted by: nerc Jun 22 2014, 01:28 PM

Andy Crapp, sorry Capp

This what you stated and i responded in what was my thoughts.

FYI, the speed awareness courses are held at Mary Hare School and at present cost £80.00.

The course is only offered to minimal speeding over the limit ie: 34mph in a 30.

The courses are administered by an excellent company (Drive Tech) and usually lasts 4 hours.

Enjoy it.

Posted by: Turin Machine Jun 22 2014, 02:13 PM

Better than points.

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 22 2014, 06:20 PM

nerc in all his / her pleasantry again!!

Posted by: Simon Kirby Jun 22 2014, 06:32 PM

I did the course, and appreciated not having the points, but I found it reasonably informative too.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 22 2014, 06:38 PM

All I wanted to know is how long I had to pay, but I was given information I doubted. Whether I can afford it or not is immaterial, but I use the holiday scenario as an example, not my intention or situation. I'm not going on holiday and never once said I was.

What I do resent is some people's Schadenfreude and nerc it seems is no exception.

Posted by: nerc Jun 22 2014, 06:39 PM

Of course,

i just get fed up with some of the old? and very few posters on this site just complaining about the local council etc.

Some posters really need to get a life and live outside the box of the NWN forum.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 22 2014, 06:45 PM

Boollox to that rip off.

3 points makes almost no difference to your premiums (or at least compared to the eighty odd knicker you get fleeced). A speed awareness is completely pointless and unhelpful. I have been driving along the A4 for 30 odd years without issue (and only one 'parking' accident when I was in my first year of driving, not hurting anyone in the process), but this time I was a little careless on an empty road in the early hours of the morning. I was going too fast and as is customary, I will get fined. That's that. All I wanted to know is how much I have to pay and when to this scabby Government.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 22 2014, 06:48 PM

You 'attacked' me. I resent paying £60.00, but I acknowledged that it is due; it is my fault, no one else's. I just wanted information, not your ignorant sarcasm. Fining me £60 will do nothing to change my driving because in this instance I just made a mistake. I don't wilfully drive too fast past speed cameras.

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 23 2014, 05:18 AM

Yes, my son was caught doing 57 in a 50mph limit on a dual carriageway the mad, reckless, dangerous idiot!
He found the course more useful and informative than he anticipated with many handy tips on how not to get caught speeding!!

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 23 2014, 06:47 AM

Glad we've got that out of the way then.

It was a long time ago that I did the awareness thing and I had to go to Bracknell to do it. It saved me the points and I still have a clean licence but apart from the salutary lesson that I had been driving at a reckless 34mph in a road which had recently had the speed limit reduced, I found the course tedious and rather pointless. If you want to keep points off the licence, the only way to do it is to stick within the speed limit. That often is not easy though as spending 10% of your driving time looking at a speedo to make sure your speed hasn't crept up is, in my opinion, a danger in itself. That said, we do need to punish the aggressive speeders who blatantly break the set limits, especially on town and urban roads.

Posted by: motormad Jun 23 2014, 08:26 AM

There is no way that a correctly reading speedometer with the correct size wheels and tyres would UNDER READ.
35mph indicated is usually about 31-32mph real speed.

I see no reason why people are getting arsey with AC... he's not complaining about it or whining about it happening, he's accepted responsibility... moan moan moan.

Posted by: Berkshirelad Jun 23 2014, 10:55 AM

If you were flashed, and you wouldn't be unless you were sufficiently over the limit to be prosecuted, then the next stage is a Notice to Keeper, on which you must name the driver at the time. You have 28 days in which to respond to this or you will receive a Summons for "Failing to Provide" which will be heard in Court and normally 6 points and a couple of hundred £ fine.

Once they have received this, you will get an offer of Fixed Penalty (£60 and 3 points). You have a further 28 days to pay and surrender your licence for endorsement. You may be offered a Speed Awareness Course if you meet the guidelines, this costs more (£90 I think) but removes possibility of conviction & points. If you do not attned the course after choosing it, you will be prosecuted for speeding via a Magistrates' Court.

Some Police Forces combine the Notice to Keeper and FPN if the keeper was the driver. I don't know if TVP do

Posted by: blackdog Jun 23 2014, 12:33 PM

Assuming the film had not run out - have they gone digital yet?.

I was 'flashed' once and didn't hear anything about it.

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 23 2014, 10:34 PM

You obviously didn't read what I said. I had bigger than standard wheels and I think that you are incorrect about speedos under reading. Modern cars with new and correctly inflated tyres are usually spot on. Next time you pass a set of police speed markers, check your speedo. I did and mine, with the Isuzu, was under reading by 4mph. If you have anything other than standard wheels and tyres check it out. Bigger wheels and low profiles might cancel each other out however.

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 23 2014, 10:34 PM

double post waiting for the forum to catch up

Posted by: Turin Machine Jun 23 2014, 11:12 PM

Read this
http://www.speedview.co/forum/Thread-How-accurate-is-my-factory-speedo

Posted by: blackdog Jun 24 2014, 12:01 AM

Compared to my satnav my speedo reads about 5% low - factory standard car/tires.

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 24 2014, 05:15 AM

Compared to my satnav my speedo reads about 7% high - factory standard car/and english tyres.

Posted by: gel Jun 24 2014, 06:49 AM

I always find using the satnav is most reliable way of checking speed, and will normally be more accurate than the old speedo.

Posted by: motormad Jun 24 2014, 08:43 AM

I try my best not to!

So you changed your wheel and tyre sizes and essed around with your speedo.

My front wheels are causing my speedo to under read by about 4-6%, as I need smaller front wheels for arch and suspension clearance. So it means if I'm doing an indicated 70mph I'm doing more like 66 - bearing in mind that an indicated 70 in my car is (or was, rather) about 66-67 indicated then I'm doing more like 62-63.

All speedometers should either be deadly accurate or under read, as in an indithis is what I have found in every car or bike I've driven, or owned. If your speedo was saying you are doing 40mph then your actual speed should be like 36-38mph.

**** I do realise in my tired and not bothered state I have confused under and over reading.. simple minds

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 24 2014, 09:19 PM

I assume you have a pocket calculator alongside you at all times then.



I don't have a sat nav so that doesn't work for me but the speedo is real time and the sat nav is elapsed time so by the time the little electronic device has worked out how fast you are going, it's too late and you've blipped a speed camera. Is that right ?.

Posted by: MontyPython Jun 24 2014, 10:32 PM

Not heard of Mental Arithmetic then?

Posted by: motormad Jun 24 2014, 11:26 PM

Not a very logical young fellow are you.

Posted by: blackdog Jun 24 2014, 11:48 PM

Sorry - I meant 5% high.

Posted by: blackdog Jun 24 2014, 11:53 PM

I don't use my satnav as a speedo - just as a way of calibrating my speedo.

And no, I don't need a calculator to work out what 5% of something is.

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 25 2014, 08:06 PM

I'm sure you don't but MMs description of his speedo variance was not quite so precise.

If my speedo was reading low and I was doing 60mph in the middle lane and MM came up behind me weaving across from the inside lane and flashing his lights, what would be our true speed and how much energy would we expend..... Ah, forget it.

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 25 2014, 09:35 PM

What lane do you hog sit in on a four lane motorway Exhausted? (Just wondered! )

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 25 2014, 09:37 PM

Lesson:

“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

Posted by: motormad Jun 26 2014, 08:53 AM

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 26 2014, 06:10 PM

The empty one.

To be honest you people spend far too much time paying attention to the ramblings of a person who believes he has the God given right to be critical of other drivers because he has a couple of years experience behind the wheel and is obsessed with modified cars.

I actually drove 1,000 miles a week for several years, most of it on motorways with a considerable amount in and around London without incident. I drive safely and without stress and am a considerate road user. I've been going along with the joke and can continue to do so. it gives me something to do when I get home from work.

Posted by: Nothing Much Jun 26 2014, 07:04 PM

I've been going along with the joke and can continue to do so. it gives me something to do when I get home from work.

A very civilised approach, dare I say it English even.
ce

Posted by: x2lls Jun 26 2014, 07:10 PM

Just like ust like Captain Mainwaring eh?

'I was wondering when somone would think of that'!!

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 26 2014, 09:03 PM

I don't quite see the relationship but if it pleases you, that's fine by me.

I'm not sure if that's meant as an insult or not but get your spelling right if it is. If not, spell how you like.

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 27 2014, 07:10 AM

What if there is more than one empty one?
Elaborate please.
For example, if the one to your left is empty?

Not if you don't "keep to the left except when overtaking" you're not!

Posted by: motormad Jun 27 2014, 09:16 AM

Clearly not if you hog the middle lane!!

When I get home from work I prefer procrasturbating, failing that I work my second job, or see my better half or eat, or sometimes all four if I'm feeling particularly adventurous. Going on this forum is very low down my list.

Bit touchy are you this evening?

Just because you've been doing something for longer doesn't mean you're any good at it. Lewis Hamilton?

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 27 2014, 01:20 PM

If all the lanes are empty who gives a stuff. I would actually use the left lane unless it has loads of lorries in it so that I need to keep weaving about at 70 mph or whatever my speedo thinks I'm doing to get by.

I'm sure that you and MM, the two most perfect drivers on the road, have loads more advice to offer but please don't be offended if I consider you both to be back seat drivers and that what you want to impart to me as free advice, is just background noise.

Keep going though as I'm off back to work now.

Sent from my Raspberry in the middle lane of the M40.

Posted by: motormad Jun 27 2014, 03:35 PM

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 27 2014, 04:44 PM

If you check my posts then you will see that I am not offering advice, just asking what you do and why you do it.
I am not a perfect driver but am trying to understand why people need to hog the middle lanes(s) which is something that, yes and I can't help it, irritates me because it is what I believe to be delaying and dangerous practice.
As I said, I am not a perfect driver and like others, do make mistakes, but I do not willfully, as you do, practice bad driving, which staying in the wrong lane is.
However, as you say, we are getting nowhere and you are now just playing us along in windup mode so I'll leave it there.

XX

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 27 2014, 07:28 PM

O.K then let me put a scenario to you which was what I originally put forward.

Let's take a busy three lane motorway, say the M4 Eastbound at 8.00 AM. The left lane has loads of lorries and a few cars driven by nervous women and old duffers doing about 50 mph. There are a few gaps but not too many. We are in the middle lane doing about 70 mph which also is very busy with not many gaps and when we look in our mirror we can see cars behind us travelling at the same speed. The third lane has fast BMW's and other rep's expresses tanking along at between 70mph and 80mph.

Choice 1. we stay in the lane doing a constant speed, the cars in font and behind maintain the same 70mph.

Choice 2. We pull out into the third lane and speed up but then struggle to find a space in the middle lane that we can safely pull back into.

Choice 3. we see a small gap in the left hand lane and move across then have to slow down to 50mph because we have caught up with the lorry at the front of the gap and then we spend a frantic period of time doing 50mph while we look in our mirrors to find an opportunity to get out and overtake, rapidly accelerating to prevent the bloke coming up at 70 mph running up our rear end.

Choice 4, we join the lorries and duffers doing 50mph and stay in the left lane with a lorry hard on our tail.

The choice is yours.

Posted by: Strafin Jun 27 2014, 09:14 PM

Do you have so little control,and foresight that you can't adjust your speed accordingly?

Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 28 2014, 12:10 AM

Yawn!

Posted by: motormad Jun 28 2014, 10:06 AM

Daww its so busy in wush hour for wittle exhausted bwess him.

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 28 2014, 12:08 PM

Noise from the child in the back.

Posted by: James_Trinder Jun 28 2014, 01:41 PM

These choices are further simplified on the A34 where you have the inside lane of vehicles doing 50-60 mph and the outside lane doing 80-90 mph because then Choice 1 does not exist and Choice 2 now refers to the outside lane and inside lane. This is a very good summary of the reality of the situation, which used to frighten me a lot when I had to commute to Oxford for a year.

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 28 2014, 05:03 PM

The A34 to Oxford has areas where lorries are nose to tail in the inside lane and then when a truck restricted to 52mph tries to overtake a truck restricted to 50mph, that's where the frustration builds and I suspect is one of the reasons for the high accident rate on what looks like a straight road.

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 29 2014, 09:03 AM

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/bad_driving.pdf
(CentreLaneOwner&DriversSociety)
Our Vision........"To find a way of entering and leaving a motorway without using the inside lane" !

Posted by: Exhausted Jun 29 2014, 06:00 PM

More pointless noise...



I knew you couldn't and had to have another go.

Posted by: Biker1 Jun 30 2014, 06:02 AM

Ah, but wasn't directed at you this time Ex. just a general comment..............bit of fun eh??
You must have a persecution complex?
Anyway, promise no more comments about centre lane hogging, you can have the last say.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jul 28 2014, 11:25 PM

Does anyone know if I go to court and loose what I will be ordered to pay?

Posted by: Biker1 Jul 29 2014, 07:42 AM

Not precisely AC but if I were you I would take it on the chin.
If you lose in court you will not only have to pay a heftier fine but you will also have to pay costs.
Are you prepared to gamble?

Posted by: Andy Capp Jul 29 2014, 08:12 AM

Just weighing the options. This isn't a good time for me. More later would be better, to a certain extent.

Posted by: motormad Jul 29 2014, 12:58 PM

For speeding normally you get an additional fine and the penalty goes from 3 points to 6.

Best bet would be that Pepipoo forum.

Posted by: Nothing Much Jul 29 2014, 01:31 PM

And you'll have to buy a new suit and look like a scrote.
6 points is not good for an insurance quote.
I am still reeling.Legally I only have 3 but insurance records go back 5 years.

I think take the hit, it is probably hard at any time but Wonga could help
Victim support surcharge? Appearing on the front page of the NWN?
ce