Speeding and magistrates court attendence

[Paddy]

I dont believe in speed limits for expereinced drivers - they are just a money making scam.
Good drivers know what speed is appropriate for the road and conditions, and so naturally drive at an appropriate speed. Thats not to say we all drive at 100mph everywhere, as even in a 30limit, a good driver will often drive much slower due to hazzards, visibility, people/children, livestock etc..

IMO speed limits should be advisory for anyone whos been driving more than X number of years with a regular annual millage of Y. young driver, or low millage drivers should still be restricted to spped limits as they wont have the experience to judge correct speed for road conditions.

Afterall, If the accident rate was proportional to the amount of times we break the current speed limits, then im sure many members of this forum alone would be crashing on a daily basis...
Motorists are just an easy target when it comes to collecting taxes...

Not all experienced drivers are good drivers and many are irresponsible. Just look at the number of police having accidents and killing pedestrians, yet another one last week. No doubt the police will get of Scott free again

[BrilloPad]

Not all experienced drivers are good drivers and many are irresponsible. Just look at the number of police having accidents and killing pedestrians, yet another one last week. No doubt the police will get of Scott free again

The police are not there to uphold the law. They are the law.

No doubt I will get -ve repped by some who think this is outrageous - I am happy that they do not know the truth.

[DodgyAgent]

The police are not there to uphold the law. They are the law.

.

You've been watching too much Judge Dredd

[northernladuk]

You've been watching too much Judge Dredd

Works for me...

[minsky1]

Unfortunately for your mum, speeding is an absolute offence - 1mph over and your technically breaking the law. 31 over is pretty much in a different league, and the courts saw it in that light.

The best possible outcome you could have hoped for was to get her mitigation statement prepared correctly. If your in ban territory, (which she clearly was) its critical you get advice from a motoring lawyer (best one I've known is BBLaw, see the pepipoo site).

Sounds like her mitigation was way off from what you've said.

Saying that you need a car because it will cause *you* hardship will hold no water, saying it will cause hardship to others is usually the way to go.

Also, the summons would have taken a substantial time to be issued and get to court (they have 6 months to lodge the information), did she seek any advice in the mean time?

[Paddy]

Unfortunately for your mum, speeding is an absolute offence - 1mph over and your technically breaking the law. 31 over is pretty much in a different league, and the courts saw it in that light.

The best possible outcome you could have hoped for was to get her mitigation statement prepared correctly. If your in ban territory, (which she clearly was) its critical you get advice from a motoring lawyer (best one I've known is BBLaw, see the pepipoo site).

Not in my case, 31 on an empty dual carrageway cost me £350 and three points

Sounds like her mitigation was way off from what you've said.

Saying that you need a car because it will cause *you* hardship will hold no water, saying it will cause hardship to others is usually the way to go.

A case before me, a driver was banned for a week rather than three months on the grounds of hardship

Also, the summons would have taken a substantial time to be issued and get to court (they have 6 months to lodge the information), did she seek any advice in the mean time?

The summons ar not issued by the court but by the police, they are worded in such a way to intimidate people to admitting the offence nor does the summons set out your rights. Most people will plead guilty no matter what in order to do away with the matter.

Magistrates courts are run by unpaid amateurs and the magistrates have strong prejudices. The Clerks to the court are usually failed law students who suffer from perminant PMT

[minsky1]

Not in my case, 31 on an empty dual carrageway cast me £350 and three points

So you didn't take the fixed penalty?

A case before me, a driver was banned for a week rather than three months on the grounds of hardship

As I said, if you get the mitigation right .......

[Peoplesoft bloke]

.. Most people will plead guilty

Because they are guilty and can see there's no way to lie and twist their way out of it

FTFY

BTW I do think (and have voted) that the penalty was harsh in this case - but she was clearly guilty.

[BrilloPad]

Most people will plead guilty no matter what in order to do away with the matter.

It would be nice if everyone went to court! Imagine the chaos!

[Paddy]

It would be nice if everyone went to court! Imagine the chaos!

The exact words of the judge to me was, “If every Tom, Dick and Harry went to court…”

BTW, if we are to presume that everyone who pleads guilty is guilty then the same rule should be applied to all countries when they parade those who have confessed to crimes are paraded on TV