Speed Awareness Course beckons

Speeding is a strict liability offence - http://www.e-lawresources.co.uk/Strict-liability.php

Big risk taking it to a Magistrates court as there is no doubt about guilt.

Have a free initial consultation with a solicitor and see what they say.
 
BeeEmm said:
Nanu said:
Well just been notified that I was caught speeding at the weekend. 58 in a 50 zone of the A1. The annoying thing is, I was accelerating to get out of the way of an Ambulance that was directly behind me on full Blues and Twos just at the same time as I passed a sneakily parked camera van in a layby.
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Nanu, So that I can fully understand this, were you in the right-hand lane of a dual carriageway? If you were, could you have moved to the left-hand lane instead of accelerating? Was it possible that you could have been more aware of the ambulance earlier before it was directly behind you? I ask as I am trying to understand why this is being pursued. I am not criticising you, just trying to make you aware of questions that may be asked if you went to court.
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The reason I was in the outside lane in the first place was there was a slip road joining so I moved over to allow those vehicles to join. As a result there was a line of cars all doing 50 on the inside.

I had the top down so I heard the ambulance before I saw it but it wasn't till it was about 200 yards behind me that I was actually aware of where it was. The choice to me was clear. stay where I was and block or accelerate to the front of the vehicles on the inside lane then pull over oi front of them which is what I did. Unfortunately as I got to the position where I was sufficiently in front to safely pull over the camera van captured me doing 58.
 
When I was in the fire service, on the intensive driving courses, we were told never to put other road users under pressure to make illegal moves.
You would treat a red light light junction as a give way junction and proceed with great care.
If you couldn't proceed in safety, you would turn off the noise and sit back with the lights on, 99% of other drivers would make space.
We were allowed to go right at a keep left arrow, with care.
And, the fire service did receive tickets from cameras too, as long as you weren't absolutely tanking it, you were safe from prosecution. We were warned by the chief that every ticket would be looked at before they had them squashed :roll:
As a driver I was not above the law, even on blues :|
 
This is very interesting. Occasionally I've been at red lights and had a police or emergency vehicle come up behind, so I've just crept past the light and allow space to let them through. I never really thought I could be caught out for doing the right thing.

Given your situation OP, I'd have done exactly the same thing. Pretty ridiculous you getting a ticket.
But seems that way with a lot of things, us ordinary muggles getting caught out. When actual criminals are getting away with 'murder'.
 
kis said:
This is very interesting. Occasionally I've been at red lights and had a police or emergency vehicle come up behind, so I've just crept past the light and allow space to let them through. I never really thought I could be caught out for doing the right thing.

Given your situation OP, I'd have done exactly the same thing. Pretty ridiculous you getting a ticket.
But seems that way with a lot of things, us ordinary muggles getting caught out. When actual criminals are getting away with 'murder'.
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I did this only last week sat at the lights ambulance comes up behind with lights flashing,so i edge passed red light to make way surely prosecution for this cannot be deemed as just.
 
Nanu said:
BeeEmm wrote: ↑02 Oct 2020 11:49
Nanu wrote: ↑01 Oct 2020 19:57
Well just been notified that I was caught speeding at the weekend. 58 in a 50 zone of the A1. The annoying thing is, I was accelerating to get out of the way of an Ambulance that was directly behind me on full Blues and Twos just at the same time as I passed a sneakily parked camera van in a layby.
Nanu, So that I can fully understand this, were you in the right-hand lane of a dual carriageway? If you were, could you have moved to the left-hand lane instead of accelerating? Was it possible that you could have been more aware of the ambulance earlier before it was directly behind you? I ask as I am trying to understand why this is being pursued. I am not criticising you, just trying to make you aware of questions that may be asked if you went to court.
The reason I was in the outside lane in the first place was there was a slip road joining so I moved over to allow those vehicles to join. As a result there was a line of cars all doing 50 on the inside.

I had the top down so I heard the ambulance before I saw it but it wasn't till it was about 200 yards behind me that I was actually aware of where it was. The choice to me was clear. stay where I was and block or accelerate to the front of the vehicles on the inside lane then pull over oi front of them which is what I did. Unfortunately as I got to the position where I was sufficiently in front to safely pull over the camera van captured me doing 58.
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Nanu, I was playing Devil's advocate if you went to court. A magistrate would mention that you should have used your mirrors more, signalled early to let the vehicles on the left know that you needed to change lanes and why were you the only one in the right-hand lane etc. Basically I am saying if you do go to court it is likely that you would lose and have to pay more. Sorry, but it is meant to be helpful advice. :)
 
Crazy Harry said:
Mr Tidy said:
If the Chief Constable is unable to wave the ticket (and I believe he/she is) then as part of the same letter ask if he would be prostituted for impeding the progress of a vehicle attending an emergency in this situation?
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Punishments a bit harsh for minor speeding.....what do you get for major infractions? :)

I would be appealing that decision as it looks as though you were trying to do the right thing.
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If you take it to court and loose you could be liable for costs which could be thousands. That’s the risk.
 
I would suggest these circumstances are covered in law by ‘special reason’
Google it and take legal advice as it will impact on any penalty.
 
These mobile speed cameras or extra revenue enforcers make me sick. I got a ticket for doing 32 in a 30 zone in Grimsby. And there is nothing you can do about it!

Feel sorry for you OP.

But if you watch the first 15 mins of Wolf Creek 2 it might make you feel a bit better. :lol:
 
pvr said:
Funny how it is illegal to do move out of the way in the UK whilst in mainland Europe it is illegal to obstruct.
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Is it true that they have the right of way no matter if on blues or not?
I’ve never been in that situation while in Europe so I would have probably erred on the side of caution.
 
I feel as if I did go to court I could make a good argument for speeding but to be honest, with any fine imposed after being found guilty being based on income, I cannot really afford to take the risk. I suppose that's what the Police rely on. I have to bite the bullet, pay the £100 and take the course as annoying as it may be. Next time there is an emergency vehicle behind me I will think very carefully before doing the right thing.
 
Nanu said:
.
Next time there is an emergency vehicle behind me I will think very carefully before doing the right thing.
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I suspect that given a situation that you would probably do the same - You will react naturally on your basic instinct of doing the right thing, because that's probably the values you were brought up to respect.
 
Nanu said:
I feel as if I did go to court I could make a good argument for speeding but to be honest, with any fine imposed after being found guilty being based on income, I cannot really afford to take the risk.
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How does that work? Wouldn't it always be your unemployed mate driving your car when caught by a speed camera......not that anyone here would do such a thing of course?
 
Don’t some speed cameras take an image of the driver?
Afraid it’s not worth the risk of a criminal record and all of it’s implications that would bring.
 
Rockhopper said:
That's called perjury - big risk of jail time.
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A case in point being Chris Huhne who along with his then wife was jailed for 8 months for perverting the course of justice. Definitely not worth the risk.
 
I had a pedestrian shouting at me to get the F out of the way in front of red lights with an emergency vehicle somewhere behind me (they had switched their lights off at that point as nobody could move).

Public's perception is that you have to move, so why is the law running behind?
 
This sums up the rules:-

https://northyorkshire.police.uk/staying-safe/road-safety/giving-way-to-emergency-service-vehicles/
 
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