Speeding fine query

[tigwig]

My dad has just received the above and it claims he was doing 50mph in a 40 mph zone. He truthfully feels he wasn't doing that speed and I must admit I have never known him speed before. Is there any way these cameras can be wrong or does that just sound like a total copout?! It was just an overhead camera on a dual carriageway and there were no signs or anything. I always thought there had to be now? Anyway the notice is from the police and he just has to confirm he was the driver and give them his license details before they decide what to do next. What is that supposed to mean? Sorry but we are new to this having being law abiding citizens ha ha! Any advice on this would be greatly received thankyou.

[pond50]

there are some fraud letters going round

[tigwig]

That was my first thought when my mum told me but the letter says Humberside Police on it and she said it looked genuine enough but I suppose it would wouldnt it? Do speeding fines always come from the Police? I know that sounds really dumb but I've never been pulled before. If it was a con surely they would just say he had to pay it immediately?

[dothawkes31]

i thought it was 60 on a dual carriageway but i think i;'m wrong : (

[Captin Kirk]

Dual carriageway usually have speed limits posted on them unless they have the white circle with black slash indicating national limit of 60 mph ... I believe ...

[pauln90]

The first part of the procedure after the speed camera catches you is that you get a letter from the Police or Fixed Penalty Office asking the registered keeper to make a declaration of who was driving at the time of the alledged offence. To ignore this is an offence. Once this form has been returned the driver will be informed of the intended action to be taken.

There are lots of dual carriageways and stretches of motorway that are regulated by speed cameras. Don't always assume what the limit is check for signs.

[saxy_jag]

I was done a few weeks ago for doing 37 in a 30 limit. I had genuinely thought it was a 40 limit, and can remember seeing the camera and thinking I was OK because I was well within the speed limit, so didn't slow down. Even my bloke could've sworn it was a 40 limit, but when we drove that way again, clearly we were wrong.

I therefore can't advise your dad about contesting what speed he was doing. I can, however, tell you what happens next if you don't appeal.

My bloke, as owner of the car, got a letter the same as your dad. We also got some information as to where I could find the photographic evidence on the net (which I'm keeping as a souvenir - I've never been done before either!). He had to send the form back to say he believed it was me (although he knew it was me, but that's what the form says). Then I got a form the same, which I had to send back. I had the option of a £60 fine and 3 points on my licence, or pay £65 for a speed awareness course and not get the points. I chose the course, which I'm doing in a couple of week's time. It's 3 hours on a Tuesday evening. If you live in another county from where you get clocked, they say you can choose a course location closer to your home. It's not run by the police, but by the county council's road safety unit.

My son did a similar course a few years ago. Said it was all very civilised and no-one pointed fingers or made accusations, and he actually learnt quite a bit from it.

[bobjugs12]

Those speed awareness courses sound like a good idea. Is that a nationwide thing, or is it only certain places that offer those courses

[saxy_jag]

Oh, I would say - if you're not sure whether it might be a fraud, your dad only needs to phone the police for wherever he was, and they will be happy to advise.

[snags]

I 'think' they only offer you the speed awareness course option if the speed you were caught at is within a certain amount of the speed limit you broke...

[magicmerlin]

Speed limit on dual carriageways is 70mph for cars unless signs say otherwise.

[saxy_jag]

Bobjugs, I think most counties do them, but there are one or two that don't. You get told if it's an option when they write to you after you've sent the form back admitting the offence. I think, if you appeal and fail, then you forfeit the option.

Oh, and I've been told you have to complete them within 4 months of the offence.

[ABerrant]

Speed Awareness Course Providers can be found here...

http://www.driver-imp...sac-service-providers

[gingejbee]

The one and only time I've been done for speeding (35 in a 30 zone) was 3 to 4 years ago and I was given the option of a speed awareness course which I think they were trying out in the Thames Valley area. Well worth going on if you're given the chance - I haven't speeded since!

[saxy_jag]

Speed limits here: http://www.direct.gov...Highwaycode/DG_070304

I think the 'national' limits can be overridden by local authorities, though, hence they can be reduced to 20 or even 15 in some residential areas.

[Francis Asis]

My husband had a letter a few years back. He was certain he wasn't speeding so he appealed and asked to see their evidence. They wrote back and said they'd overlook it this time but to be careful in future.
I SWEAR that is true. It is worth contesting it.

[saxy_jag]

I'm tempted to agree with Eddie re. contesting it, especially these days. You think you're driving safely, and you probably are, but the law's the law. I don't like it any more than anyone else, but you can't just abide by the laws you like.

But as Eddie says, 'mild' speeding offences are so easy to commit. I get the impression the police understand that and they don't usually treat offenders like criminals. What riles them is when a driver is being nasty about it, or is drunk or stoned.

In your dad's position, assuming he has no other offences or points on his licence, I'd be tempted to just pay the sixty-odd-quid, either do the course or have the points, then put it all down to experience (and make sure I don't do it again, of course). It is nothing to be ashamed of!

[pink-kittens]

Are you absolutely certain it was a dual carriageway?

I don't mean 2 lanes going the same way, I mean an actual dual carriageway? Do you know what makes a road a dual carraigeway?
Were there road works or any other restrictions? Can you go back and look?

[Prudie]

I have been done in the last month and confirm that the timetable of events is exactly as saxy-jag says. I have opted for the course and am awaiting a date. It cost me £70 rather than the £60 fine and I think the cost of the course does vary from county to county. I have been told my course will be run at my local police HQ. The problem with contesting and asking for evidence is if you are proved to have been speeding then the option of doing the course will have run out and you have to take the points.

[tigwig]

Thanks guys. My dad was in the area yesterday and it is definitely a 40 but still he doesn't think he was doing 10 over the limit and there is no warning of cameras. Anyway he will confirm it was him driving and see what they offer. He says he wants it to go to court and he will appeal but he is still peed off with the ticket so may change his mind ha.