Speed cameras - worse case scenario

[pitstopbunny]

Yesterday I got flashed at by a speed camera, I'm not sure how fast I was going, maximum would have been 50mph on a 30mph dual carriageway. I've had a clean licence for 20 years, is this taken into consideration & what sort of penalty can I look farward to receiving? How long does it take for the letter to drop onto the door step? & will I get the option to pay in installments - I'm on sickness benefit & only get �60 a week to cover all my expenses. Any info/advice please!!!

[Chessman]

I got flashed about two months ago, 39 in a 30 restriction, my my first offense ever in over 40 years driving, �60-00 and 3 points. The thing is, its all done by computers, and its very rare for accenuating circumstances to be taken into account, if you think you've got a case, you'll be given a chance to go to court to fight it, but if you lose, it'll be more expensive, because you'll have to pay the court costs, there is a phone number on the summons when you get it, and they do answer, so maybe you could try that and see what transpires.

Sorry I couldn't give you to much hope, but good luck anyway.

[pitstopbunny]

I'll hold my hands up - I was speeding, there's no denying that. I had heard that if you are offered the 3 points & �60 fine, it's best to take it & shut up! Just hope I can pay it off bit by bit tough!

[spaced]

you will receive 3 or more points, and probably a �60 fine. They will not take you history into consideration as its a computer that churns these fines out.

You will be able to appeal, and I would put your good histot

[tigga]

I think you get 28 days to pay the fixed pen' but thats in full, no installments.

[pitstopbunny]

Chessman.,how quickly did it take from when you got caught on camera, to when the letter fell through the door?

[gary baldy]

I think you should go back to camera and try and reason with it. Tell it your situation and see how it responds. Sorry for the sarcasm but my point is that there is no leaway with cameras - it could be 4 o clock in the morning without a car in sight but the camera doesnt take this into consideration whereas in the good old days perhaps a human being would have. 3 points and �60 fine - sickness benefit or not - sorry mate!
You could appeal - take it court and offer to pay in instalments. Another point of note - if the ticket doesnt come in 14 days (i think) then its is legally void - usually takes 3 or 4 days otherwise.

[SC00BY]

One of my friend was caught speeding, because it wasn;t much over the limit she got the chance to go on a driver education day. Cost 80 pounds but avoided the points

[Chessman]

pitstopbunney, it was two to three weeks, they're not rushed on these things, like to make you sweat, mind you, in yesterdays paper, in Essex, where I live, over 5000 police were caught speeding, not one conviction. Makes you think,

[Grunty]

I think Chessman's memory is a few days out. The alternative to paying the ticket is to go to court. You cannot be taken to court for speeding unless a notice or summons is sent to you within 14 days. One slight ray of hope - some cameras flash but do nothing else because the offices are overloaded.

[JudgeJ]

Since you were detected by an automatic device and so not warned at the time you should be served with a Notice of Intended Prosecution within 14 days of the offence. The CPS has six months (from the date of the offence) in which to bring the prosecution to court.

If you are prosecuted and offered a fixed penalty (�60 and three points) I should grab it with both hands. Over 45mph in a 30 zone is viewed by some police forces in the same way as over 100mph on a motorway. They may insist that your case is heard by the magistrates. If it is you may be liable to a receive a higher number of points or even a short disqualification. The fine will depend on your means (but will be at least �60) and you will be liable to pay prosecution costs (usually about �45).

Alternatively you could refuse the fixed penalty offer and plead guilty in court. You could then offer your good driving record as “offender mitigation” and also give details of your limited means. My view is that this would be pointless. 50 in a 30 zone is considered serious speeding.

Lastly, if you do ask for time to pay the magistrates might be keen to learn how you manage to run a car (and do everything else) on �60 per week. My own (very small) car has cost me �2,100 to do 12,000 miles in 17 months. I make this almost �30 per week and whilst this includes tax and insurance it does not include the cost of buying it! You must be very frugal with your housekeeping. Perhaps you could help me manage my own finances.

[ianess]

Take the fine and points and put it down to the joys of motoring..it's a total waste of time trying to plead for mercy.....take the money out on an overdraft or credit card if you have to, although I appreciate your financial situation may complicate matters.
I got done for 49 in [just in, at the end of a dual carriageway] a 30 zone with a bus full of passengers and was more than happy to pay the fine and keep my job. It could have been a lot worse but spoiling a clean license was more annoying than anything else.
I don't think many people deliberately speed but it's a good way to raise even more money from the motorist.

[Mattk]

ive been 'flashed' by speed cameras twice and both times have received nothing so there is no guarantee that you will actually receive anything.i guess in my case they were just used to slow me down....didnt work tho cos i just thought oh well ive been done now so no matter !!!

[Chessman]

i'm not actually sure we'er on the same wavelength here Grunty, I never said you can be taken to court for speeding, what I said, if you re-read my post, is that pitstopbunney will be given the chance to go to court, if he/she wishes to fight it, that option is sent with the summons, but your right about some camera's not being fully loaded.

[Eels]

I wouldn't be worrying so much about paying the fine but your insurance - which will shoot up after this, and may be difficult to pay on only �60 a week.

[Grunty]

Chessman - the point I was making was that your recollection was that you had received the paperwork 2 to 3 weeks after the incident. In fact, as JudgeJ says, you must be sent the notice within 14 days. Otherwise you cannot be taken to court for speeding if you choose not to pay the ticket. Therefore the bunny should receive a written notice on or very soon after the 14th day, and his suspense will then be at an end.

[pitstopbunny]

I'm actually very lucky - my father pays my insurance for me, but there is no way I'd ask him to pay my fine as well. I was speeding & hopefully will be offered the �60 fine, guess I'll have to figure a way to find it.

[pitstopbunny]

OK, to sum up guys....the camera caught me on Wednesday so they have until when to notify me? Also take the option of �60 fine and 3-6 points seems best -if offered or even the option for a day school to keep the points off my licence, again if offered, therefore keeping the insurance down - sound about right?

[pagey]

I was caught doing 49 in a 30mph DUAL CARRAIGEWAY WITH CENTRAL RESERVATION AND BARRIER (don't even get me started) - I accepted 3points and �60 fine. Police have an element of discretion, but over a typical amount (50 in a 30) you may be summonsed to court.

If you don't get summonsed - take the 3 points and fine and hold out for four years when you can get them removed from your licence (fee applies!)

If you do get summonsed - explain the circumstances (hopefully a quite road, no schools, crossing etc), your perfect driving history, and you will probably get 6 points. A ban is very unlikely.

Car speedos always overestimate slightly - chances are you were clocked doing between 46 and 49 if your speedo read 50. You should be ok.

The camera might not even have had film in it!

Good luck.

[WoWo]

"I wouldn't be worrying so much about paying the fine but your insurance - which will shoot up after this, and may be difficult to pay on only �60 a week."

Thats not really the case any longer, the world and his dog have 3 points from a speeding camera these days and the insurance companies know this, I have both a car and a motorcycle and neither insurance went up when I got flashed by a camera.

If you have more than 3 points then sure that will make the payments go up, but as I say it's just too common these days.

[pitstopbunny]

For those of you that read this originally & offered me advice - it has now been 15 days since the day of the offence and I haven't heard from the speeding camera people - how long do you think I should allow for Xmas post before I can heave a big sigh of relief?