What Can I Expect?

[Barsel]

Please don't be shocked, but yesterday I went through a red light. Well, it was amber when I started to go through it, but it was a large junction and it changed to red as I was going through it.
The car on the inside lane to me stopped, but I carried on when really I could have stopped.
If there are cameras at that junction, am I going to be in trouble?

[AuntPG]

Barsel: You will receive letter within 28 days of the offence. It will detail the offence and you have to fill in a formconfirming you were the driver of the vehicle. They will offer you either 3 points and a £100 fine or you can choose to go on the What’s Driving Us? (WDU?) course. At the moment these are done online and cost £80.

This is not copy/paste job, unfortunately its the voice of experience. A couple of months ago I overtook a cyclist through a very sleepy village and went over the 30mph limit . A camera van was in the pub carpark and I got zapped. I'm booked on a course in December online.

[jennyjoan]

NJ - I know now but didn't realise how important that it was better to do the course as I too went through 30mph. It took 4 years to get the points off - I definitely would have gone for the course.

[jennyjoan]

Reading over your answers can I ask.

If one decides to do the course is that all you pay for or do you pay a fine plus more money for the course.

[AuntPG]

jenny you are offered two choices -pay £100 fine and get 3 points on your licence, OR pay £80 and do the course and get no points on your licence.

[jennyjoan]

Boy wasn't I stupid not to go for the course. But I had been concerned then 4 years ago that I wouldn't be able to lipread the "teacher" - but I should have gone anyway and told him/her that I lipread. Anyway It's all over now.

[barry1010]

The police are legally required to serve the Notice of Intended Prosecution within 14 days of the offence - as NJ said this goes to the registered keeper.
https://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/information-and-services/Advice/Road-safety/Notice-of-intended-prosecution

[LadyCG]

Barsel, I have shot through more red and Amber lights than I can possibly remember, mainly because I have made a split-second decision that slamming on my brakes at the last moment would be potentially more dangerous.

Never once have I ever had any comeback.

Please don't fret.

[Barsel]

Well I must admit I've never done it before, and as soon as I did it, I swore at myself.
The car on the inside of me had stopped and yet I carried on and there was just no need for it.
Only myself to blame if I got zapped, but will be more careful in future.

[Peter Pedant]

go for the course
actually - - it quite interesting

[Maydup]

The most important thing is that no harm was done but you jumping the lights this time. Knowing that the very worse possible outcome is £100 and 3 points, please don't beat yourself up anymore!

[pixie374]

I failed my first driving test by jumping a red light. Don't feel too bad :-)

[New Judge]

//The police are legally required to serve the Notice of Intended Prosecution within 14 days of the offence -//

Quite so, barry. Road Traffic Offenders' Act, Section 1. If AuntPG received the notice beyond 14 days she should have declined the course and fixed penalty and defended the matter in court. The difficulty she may have had is that the Notice is presumed served two working days after posting unless the contrary can be proved. If the prosecution can prove that it was posted in time, the defendant has to prove that service was not achieved in time.