QUOTE(coolkrio @ 18 Jan 2010, 10:52 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Heading off to work tonight I went a different way to normal as the usual route was covered in mud, grit and sugar beat, not to mention the constant stream of tractors and lorrys.(I live in back o beyond)
Any way, just as i came from a 60 into a 30 a police man gunned me, i was slowing and was caught doing 54 in the 30.
obviously pulled me over, explained I should be doing 30 well before the sign, which i agreed to.
Was told I would recieve a court summons and they would decide my fate, I can either go to court and plead guilty or stay home and plead guilty.
Im my 4 years driving iv never had any dealing with the police or the legal system.
I have no idea what to do, or expect!
In all honesty im terrified.
By the way im not looking for sympathy, I completly accept im guilty.
Any comment / advice welcome.
Ok, first of all, don't panic. You can't change anything, so there's no use worrying about it.
Here's what has happened, and what will happen.
The copper has clocked you at 54mph in a 30. You accept you're guilty, so that will go in your favour. The copper will have noted that you admitted wrong-doing at the roadside in his notes. He's issued you with a 'verbal NIP' or 'Notice of Intended Prosecution'. It will have been something along the lines of:
"I will be reporting you for the consideration of prosecution for the offence of exceeding the marked speed limit for this road. You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say may be given in evidence. It may harm your defence if you do not mention something which you later rely on in court. Do you wish to say anything?" Whatever you said after that, he will have noted officially. This is all then sent to the CPS or Crown Prosecution Service. They will decide if they have enough evidence to prosecute you (they do - the speed reading from the gun, the Police officer's written statement and your own admission at the roadside). It will be passed to the courts and a date set for you to appear. You'll get a letter informing you of when it is. This process can take anything up to 6 months (the CPS have up to 6 months to 'lay' the evidence with the court).
In the interim, I suggest you drive like a granny; picking up 3 points for another speeding offence, parking on zig-zags etc will not reflect well on the view the Magistrates form of you...!
On your court day, you'll be expected to appear and it won't do any harm at all to wear a suit and tie. If you don't plan on fighting it, you'll be asked to stand in front of the Magistrates (there will usually be 3) and the offence will be read out by the Clerk of the Court. You'll be asked if you have anything to say, and I would say that you admit fully that you are guilty, it was a momentary lapse in concentration and is not indicative of your usual driving standards (it will help if you have a clean licence currently!). I'd also mention that you admitted you were speeding to the officer who stopped you at the time. I would then apologise and state that you've learned your lesson and you're sorry to be taking up the court's time because of your offence.
The Mags will then confer, along with input from the Clerk (who is actually the one who knows what the sentencing guidelines are in more depth). I would imagine that you're looking at 3-6 points and a fine. The fine may be calculated on your earnings (or 'means-tested'). If you're only being reported for speeding, you're not going to be banned. The speed is simply at a high enough level that it should be dealt with by the courts; 3 points fixed penalty isn't an option. Had you been at 50 or under, I reckon you may have gotten away with a fixed penalty at the roadside.
I would guess you're probably looking at between 3-6 points (I once got 5 for 97.6 in a 70) and £150-200 fine + 'Victim Surcharge' (which is a load of ballsacks - show me the 'victim' of your 'crime'...?) which is, at present, £15-30 I think. I know it's either changed recently or about to.
Don't be late to court, look smart, act humble, take it on the chin and learn the lesson.
Oh, and welcome to the club - I've been in court twice for speeding and have had numerous FPNs over the years. Meantime, drive carefully and don't give them any more ammunition to hit you with.
Don't worry about it; there's nothing you can do, so don't let it play on your mind.
