Court summons for driving without insurance

[sue11]

Hello, I am posting this question on behalf of one of my employees. As his current motor insurance was due to run out on the 30th October 09, he decided to shop around and found a new policy which was cheaper. He took out the new insurance and received his new policy details, but unfortunately did not double check the start date of the new insurance. He was out driving in his car on the 30th October and was to his knowlege at that point, fully insured. He was stopped by the police (I presume that he was caught out by the number plate recognition euipment) and the police asked him for his insurance details. He had these on him, but was then shocked to find out the his new insurance did not start until 31st October, the next day. At that point the police simply asked him to provide further details at the police station, which he did, but then he received court summons for driving without insurance. He had absolutely no intention of trying avoid taking out insurance as he had already taken out the new policy and had the papers on him. He is kicking himself that he did not check the policy details when they came through. He is perfectly prepared to pay a fine for this as it was his own fault for not checking, but would like to try to avoid points as he feels it was a geniune mistake. Has anyone got any advice as to what he could expect from the court? Is there a chance that it would be dismissed as it is very obvious that this is an error and not a deliberate attempt to drive with no insurance?
Thanks for any advice given
Sue

[sue11]

Thank you for this answer, my employee has now attended court and has been given a £400 fine and 2 points on his licence. I felt this was harsh given the circumstances, but in discussing this with others, I now have discovered that he could have received up to 9 points on his licence.
He main worry is how this will affect his insurance for next year, hopefully if he can explain the circumstances behind this, he may not be too badly affected.
Once again thank you for the response.
Sue

[magicmerlin]

I assume there was a gap between old insurance expiring and new insurance coming into effect. Is that the case?

[dalebillster]

thats a real shame to read about your employee. You would like to have thought that the police would have been lenient with him in this instance as it was clearly an accident with the paper work. I got 6 points & £200 fine years ago when i got caught knowingly driving without insurance (naughty i know but im all legal now). Point bieng, i got punished for intentionally breaking the law, your employee got punished for unknowingly breaking the law. The police have got it wrong somewhere. 2 points or 6 points, it seems they are punishing both the 'innocent' & guilty. ITS WRONG!!!