Have the police made a mistake?
- Thread starter Liam-O
- Start date
By the seaside...
If you dont think you were speeding... You may not have been... I'll tell you a little story of my experiance a couple of years ago.....
I was travelling with my (then) boss on the M1 southbound... He was driving in his black A4 saloon.... We were early for our meeting so he was taking his time.....
We seen an unmarked bmw speeding behind us and so he getting ready to move out the way.... When it turns out he was flashing us!!
He pulls over on the hard shoulder and said he clocked us doing over 100.... Definetly not the case... So he decides to show his evidence on his little screen... And guess what.... It wasnt him!! Was some other bog standard black A4, no apology he sent us on our way.
Any other day or driver and if a coppa says your are speeding most would agree even if the police made a mistake.
You say you were with a group of bikers not hard to mistake one biker for another.
I was travelling with my (then) boss on the M1 southbound... He was driving in his black A4 saloon.... We were early for our meeting so he was taking his time.....
We seen an unmarked bmw speeding behind us and so he getting ready to move out the way.... When it turns out he was flashing us!!
He pulls over on the hard shoulder and said he clocked us doing over 100.... Definetly not the case... So he decides to show his evidence on his little screen... And guess what.... It wasnt him!! Was some other bog standard black A4, no apology he sent us on our way.
Any other day or driver and if a coppa says your are speeding most would agree even if the police made a mistake.
You say you were with a group of bikers not hard to mistake one biker for another.
Worth noting some insurers now specifically ask about SAC, and premiums change accordingly. In London one of the more tolerant insurers for our postcodes is Admiral, they're also handily SAC inquisitive. IF you can get by insuring without Admiral group, then SAC is the way forward.
did my speed awareness course last tuesday after being caught doing 38mph on a rainy wednesday night in february, the buggers had a mobile van out in the dark parked up on a kerb around a bend. fair cop, i was speeding so no excuses.
yes insurance companies do ask if you have done a speed awareness course but you are not obliged to tell them and they have no way of knowing if you have as the data the police have is not being shared with them, they only have access to your points and convictions. this is what we were specifically told by the course leaders
there was a good mix of people there from all ages, male and female. the oldest was about 70 and the youngest about 22 :lol:
yes insurance companies do ask if you have done a speed awareness course but you are not obliged to tell them and they have no way of knowing if you have as the data the police have is not being shared with them, they only have access to your points and convictions. this is what we were specifically told by the course leaders
there was a good mix of people there from all ages, male and female. the oldest was about 70 and the youngest about 22 :lol:
Good luck with the PC speed awareness course. Tax payers shouldn't have to foot a bill this stuff just to keep the jobs worth's happy. It makes no difference from what I've seen. I'd personally be happier doing a weeks community service and watching a "speed-kills" disk! At least that's useful eh! I'm no speedster anymore- too old heh, In fact I don't like people who speed in confined spaces one bit- but its nigh on impossible to never wander over.
Just read this thread and some interesting comments and opinions. Just a couple of points to summarise the legal position which may assist others:
- Notice of Intended Prosecution. If given at the time of the offence or immediately after then no need for a written one to be sent. This can be given orally by the officer at the time or by written notice at the time.
- As previously said speed is by the officers opinion and supported by another or technical device.
- Decision to prosecute is not by the police but the Crown Prosecution Service who apply their code of conduct in that a successful prosecution must be 50% or more likely if taken to court. It's a common misconception that the police make decisions to take a case to court - not so it's the CPS.
- In speeding cases the Chief Police Officers Association (covering the 43 forces of England and Wales) have agreed a set of standards for speeding which determine if a Speed Awareness Course, fixed penalty fine or court are appropriate depending on the severity of the offence. An internet search will find the variations across the speed range.
- A Speed Awareness Course can only be given once in any 3 year period.
Hope this assists.
- Notice of Intended Prosecution. If given at the time of the offence or immediately after then no need for a written one to be sent. This can be given orally by the officer at the time or by written notice at the time.
- As previously said speed is by the officers opinion and supported by another or technical device.
- Decision to prosecute is not by the police but the Crown Prosecution Service who apply their code of conduct in that a successful prosecution must be 50% or more likely if taken to court. It's a common misconception that the police make decisions to take a case to court - not so it's the CPS.
- In speeding cases the Chief Police Officers Association (covering the 43 forces of England and Wales) have agreed a set of standards for speeding which determine if a Speed Awareness Course, fixed penalty fine or court are appropriate depending on the severity of the offence. An internet search will find the variations across the speed range.
- A Speed Awareness Course can only be given once in any 3 year period.
Hope this assists.
