Boost II

iTrader: (1)

Not what you want to hear, but at the end of the day you admit to the offence. If you don't plead guilty the punishment is usually harsher - upto a third extra in terms of points / ban if then found guilty. The doddering old magistrates have seen too many people trying to get off with lame excuses and it does not cut any ice. Obviously a decent solicitor could advise you in damage limitation but I think you'd be lucky to get off scott free. It's not fair that summons's are often badly worded, ambiguous, illiterate or just damned misleading but that is the crumby justice system that you have to accept. The only reason they are grinding away as a clerk in the CPS is because they are too thick too get a proper job, sadly they don't like being told this.

Peanuts

iTrader: (15)

I was caught at *ahem* 112mph on the M27 last april, appeared before the beak in Fareham magi`s court.
Heres how it went, TAKE A BRIEF WITH YOU!
he argued my original penalty of 12 months ban down to 2 weeks ban and £300 (much better dont you think, although next years renewel will show this!!!!!
get a letter from work etc etc and fingers crossed. hopefully youll get a slapped wrist and a fine as its below the magic ton mark?!?!?!
lastly, you have some good luck there

Andy.....

Octane Man

Tiggers,

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, how many cars do you see on the Motorway doing 90mph.. Loads.

As for the police almost tailgaiting you, I think that they should have identified them selves sooner or held a safe distance so as not to make you feel in danger. If I'm on the motorway and a car speeds up from behind I'd usually pull over if there's a gap or accelerate and find one.

At the time you were stopped did they take a statement from you ? if so you would have been told to read through it and sign it to confirm it was correct. Get yourself a good lawyer and you may be lucky, they have no video evidence of this event and you did the upstanding citizen thing of admitting you were going over the limit.

I'd say to focus on what you just said below, you feared that the vehicle behind was driving too close and without due care and attention.
<B>In addition to these points I would not have been recorded at the speed I was had I not accelerated to complete my overtaking of three of the vehicles mentioned above due to my desire to get out of the way of the police car which was in my opinion travelling too close to the back of me and closing at a rapid rate. </B>

I'm not endorsing speeding but sometimes you can be unfortunate to get an officer that's a bit OTT. 98% of police out there do a great job and without them we'd all be sorry, it just takes a few that bend the rules or present things in a manner to make them seem the knight on the white horse.

O.M.

tiggers

Thanks for your posts.

I would just like to say that I am not trying to get off the charges altogether as I am guilty and with no previous endorsements don't see the point in taking the chance of making things worse by pleading not gulity as they are unlikely to ban me. I just want to limit the damage as much as possible.

Anyway do any of you know of a good brief in the North Manchester/East Lancashire area?

Thanks again.

tiggers

tiggers

OK folks, I got caught speeding approximately 2 months ago on the motorway by an unmarked patrol car using a Provida system. Recorded speed was just under 100mph and I have now been summoned to appear before the local magistrates court. At the time I admitted the offence and was polite and helpful with the police. Before we go any further I admit I was speeding and am well prepared to accept the consequences, but I just want some advice.

While the police evidence statement included with the summons does not contain any lies it is somewhat ambiguous and doesn't make sense in some areas. E.g. The statement says that traffic was light, but it also claims I overtook numerous vehicles whilst being recorded (4 was the actual number), two questions in the middle of the statement say that I answered No when the questions as worded on the statement could not have a Yes or No answer.

In addition to these points I would not have been recorded at the speed I was had I not accelerated to complete my overtaking of three of the vehicles mentioned above due to my desire to get out of the way of the police car which was in my opinion travelling too close to the back of me and closing at a rapid rate. They did not identify themeselves until after I had pulled back to the inside lane! Finally the statement informs me that the video evidence from the Provida has not been retained.

So here is what I am asking. I feel I should go to the court, plead guilty, but point out the above as well as the fact that this is my first offence. Does anyone out there have experience of a similar situation and is this the best course of action? Or would I be better just pleading guilty and keeping my opinions about the police witness statement to myself?

Thanks in advance,

Regards,

tiggers

GaryC

Very good Traffic specialising solicitor in Manchester - Graham Walker - 0161 834 3585

I can *ahem* vouch for how good he is

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Which motorway did you get caught on tiggs?
I know for a fact that the unmarked cars on the M60 are volvos,one red and one blue one, on the M62 there are 2 P reg 2ltr 16v omegas (well thats what there badged as but they dont half shift!)
Good luck anyway, had a close call myself but that was with those spec cameras on the M6 near knutsford..... i feel i was a little over the limit and thought id be getting a Nip through the post but 18 days on and nowt suppose i shouldnt have floored it with that wrx behind me

Tony

(oh and my PPP'd car was outpacing him! )

tiggers

I was caught on the M60 - dark green Volvo T5 (badge missing though!!!)

As a slight aside a work colleague's son is in the Greater Manchester police traffic division and they are about to have a six week speeding blitz. They are to concentrate on urban areas where kids are playing (sensible) and motorways especially at weekends (because it's easier to catch people on emptier roads - their words not mine)(NOT SENSIBLE).

Be careful out there.

Regards,

tiggers.

boomer

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by tiggers:
<B>Finally the statement informs me that the video evidence from the Provida has not been retained.[/quote]

Tiggers,

this gets me _very_ cross!!! If you were truly a danger, then surely video evidence would prove the point. As this has "not been retained", you may ask yourself *why*? Perhaps the methods used by the Police car (driving too close?, intimidation? dangerous driving?) were not appropriate, so they were conveniently "forgotten"!

Even if you don't take him/her to court with you, i would check with a solicitor as to the way this has been handled. The Police *do* have rules (indeed LAWS) to follow, and they must not overstep the line!

Even if you still get done for speeding, at least the over-keen officers may play by the rule book next time.

mb