Court summons for careless driving... HELP!!!!

[MrB1984]

I had a crash back in March 08, i went round a corner and lost control and passenger side ended up hitting head on, on coming traffic, the passenger broke their hip, as the impact was on the passenger door... A month or so later lost my job, and was un employed for 5mnths, i last week started a new job, with company van, so they have seen my licence, it has ts10 in 04, sp30 05 and another sp30 dec 06.....
Today i have walked into a court summons letter for careless driving (court date of 17th Feb), i will plead guilty i think, by post, but am very worried as to the punishment i will receive, i really cant loose my licence, it will honestly ruin me, and as for the fine, where ive just started work im still a week in hand, so wont see money for another week.
What is the likely punishment, im worried anymore points, and my work will just get rid of me, a ban will make it impossible to travel, as im a mobile electrician.. This could not of come at a worser time! Can anyone help!

[Toureman]

Perrhaps these people might be able to help you !

[Toureman]

Forgot the link, here it is......................

http://www.iam.org.uk/

[Buenchico]

The TS10 endorsement ceased to count, for totting up purposes, in 2007. Your licence became 'clean', in respect of that endorsement, in 2008. (i.e. you could apply for a new copy of your licence, which would not show that endorsement)

The first SP30 endorsement ceased to count, for totting up purposes, in 2008. It must remain on your licence until the date which is 4 years after the date of the offence.

Only the second SP30 still counts for totting up purposes. SP30 offences can result in between 3 and 6 penalty points being added to your licence, but if the matter was dealt with by a fixed penalty (rather than by a court appearance) there are currently only 3 'valid' points on your licence.

A conviction for driving without due care and attention can result in between 3 and 9 points being added to your licence. Alternatively, it can result in an immediate ban from driving. (There's usually a means-tested fine as well. The maximum is �2500. More usual fines are in the range of �200 to �800. Your current financial circumstances should keep the fine quite low but you'll still have to pay a �15 victim surcharge and probably costs of, say, �80 as well). In extreme circumstances a community service order, or curfew order, could be imposed.

The fact that your poor driving led to an accident involving injury means that the court will look towards the upper end of the scale of penalties. You'd be well-advised to attend court, using a solicitor to argue your case. With a bit of luck you might keep the penalty down to 6 to 8 points which, assuming that you only received 3 points with the last SP30, will keep your total points to lower than 12 (thus avoiding a ban).

Chris

[New Judge]

If you do consult a solicitor you might ask him to look at the timing of your summons.

Careless driving is a "summary" offence and the authorities have six months from the date of the alleged offence to"lay an information" before the court. They therefore need to have done this by last September and you should enquire whether this was done and, if so, what has happened between then and now to delay your summons.

[MrB1984]

I answered this in my other posting,, DAte of information was 7/11/08 and date letter was made was 9/1/09, does this mean it is out of the timescale!

[MrB1984]

Sorry, just realised accident was in May, so hat aint right, hought i had a easy way out then!

[TWR]

Just out of Interest, what speed where you doing to cause you to loose control?

[MrB1984]

Lol, dont know officer! Police could not work out speed as there was no skidmarks etc. I dont think i was going to fast it was a swerving steep bend right, it had been raining for days previously but not on the day.

[TWR]

As stated, You have to attend if you value your licence.

[MrB1984]

I dont think you know! You can do i by post but am thinking of going, due to my circumstances, and the fact it was a general accident, police found no evidence so suggest i was speeding or even in the wrong. I will be looking into all my options and will be ringing a solicitor first thing tomorrow.

[TWR]

Do not take offence at my answer, But if you think the post is your best option rather than attending due to the fact that you need your licence for your living, The position is with your case in my opinion, a claim for many things from the opposites Insurance Com I would think they would pick up on the past SP offences as they do, I do understand what you said regards the poilce have no evidence, I know what I would be thinking MR.B.

[MrB1984]

Thinking! that is not facts though... I thought it was innocent unil proven guilty, using evidence. You cant just lock someone up for murder because he looks like a loon, and you think he done it!
Ive decided to go to court in person which a solicitor, i will probably plead guilty to careless driving, as something, happened to result in me crashing, if i dont know what happened thats careless, i would of thought.