chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

it was destined to happen after my gearbox blew up today.

in the little fiat i got earlier to cart me about, taking me mam to her works do.

get a police van up behind me approaching a roundabout, so i pull over. it does too. ok, i thought, i set off again.

then the blues come on. "oh no" is my first thought.

so i pulled into the next turning with mumsy starting to blubber, and me thinking "what have i done".
asked out of the car into the police van and the policeman starts asking (quite politely) the usual stuff.
tax, m.o.t., insurance etc. all sorted, even though i have nothing on me.

then he told me what id done. apparantly id driven striaght through a red light. i couldnt believe myself. the consequences of something like this could have been fatal, and i was very shocked and immediatly full of remorse.

so a little chat about road safety insued, and i again apologised. being a newish driver he kinda understood, but was still forced to dish out the dredded £60 and three points.

this is what upset me, my clean license gone. im really really gutted, and if i make any other silly mistake before march, thats it, licence gone as ive been driving less than two years.

credit to both policeman and woman (who calmed my mother down), they were very fair with me, and have given me the usual 7 day producer and ticket to pay in 28 days. the fine is nothing, i will pay that, but the points upset me. not them for dishing them out to me, its their job and i fully understand. but im so dissapointed in myself.

not been a good day for me as of yet.

thought id share my positive and negative experience with the law.

not gonna do my insurance any favours nect december...

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

as far as I know your first three points dont really effect your insurance.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

really? i suppose im lucky in that i only renewed my policy two weeks ago, so by the time it comes around, ok il have three points stamped muckily on my license, but il also have two years no claims bonus. maybe cancel each other out.

so an sp30 is speeding, whats driving through a red light called in the points system.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

Really sorry to hear about your bad day. We all make silly mistakes form time to time, you just happen to do yours in front of a copper

Anyway, check your insurance policy, some require that you tell them of offence committed during the term. Either way, telling them is no bad thing. If they did not need to know, they cannot charge you more. Its just best to be sure.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Bloody hell Andy it's not been your day today! They do say bad luck comes in threes

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

sshhhhhhh...

scoobynutta555

As part of your policy, more than likely you'll have to declare any points issued during any policy or they may void your insurance come claim time.

Also, make sure your car and driving are squeaky clean until you've passed more than 2 years. As you already know, you'll lose your licence. 3 or even 6 points won't make much difference, if any, on the premium. Going through a red light might be classed as more dangerous than speeding though insurance wise.

Tough day for you mate!

Alan MaC

Sorry to hear that Andy.

It's so easily done, toooooo much information.

There are signs everywhere too much in my mind.

Hope things are better for you tomorrow.
Kind regards

Alan MaC

Simon 69

It wont all seem quite as bad tomorrow...

C17RPA

been reading your posts today,i feel so sorry for ya mate...things can only get better i hope you have a better 2008

T5OLF

iTrader: (4)

3 points should not make any difference to your insurance, still a pain in the ****. Roll on 2008 mate

RON

I should go to bed Andy...NOW!!!!!

Tough break mate!!!

finnigan5823

iTrader: (4)

wheres the days of cops given warnings gone,i have getting to the stage now(if i no have done nowt wrong)where i just give them a piece of my mind,traffic cops really get my back up they are a total waste of money,then again the amount of fines they get they probably pay for the lazy cops who sit about doing F all about real criminals who get away with shooting 11yr old innocent kids

D-an-W

iTrader: (1)

Damn CoB, I thought you had bad luck with the whole exhaust incident!

I was devastated when I got the NIP in the post for my first (& LAST!) 3 points but it didn't affect the insurance and it's not the end of the world...

Hope your mum is ok too

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

yeah, usual hysterics from the bid. think she was upset, as it was her who insisted i give her a lift in my "new" car

she sent me a message last night saying she feels guilty and wants to pay half the £60 fine, which is good of her i guess. probably my xmas pressie though

feel a bit better this morning, but im sticking to every limit from now until march. i will not lose my license over silly things like this. more vigilant from now on chaps

The rookie

iTrader: (1)

Sp30 is speeding, not red lights, that is a TS10, insurers tend to be heavier on you for that than 3 points for speeding (sorry) which is now seen as normal - if in any doubt run some dummy quotes through a comaprison site like confused.com

When endorsements and penalty points can be removed from a driving licence : Directgov - Motoring

Simon

pauld37

Not been your day Andy .

Although 3 points doesn't make too much difference on you insurance, I know what you mean about having them on your licence, especially for a first offence.

My licence was clean for 20 years then got caught doing 37 in a 30 area, fair enough I was speeding, but the £60 would have been enough

DJ Dossa

Thats bad news, hope next week's better for you.
I've got 3 points from an SP30 and that didn't affect any quotes I got for my new wagon last week.
Also with my old car (ST24) I had 6 points at one time and that didn't affect my premium either so you may be lucky.
The first time I got caught, was pulled over by a cop with radar in hand (37 in a 30) and it was the first time I'd ever been stopped and with my license only 18 months old it was a pretty sobering experience so can understand how you felt.
Hope it's all cool for you mate.

powerman1

Look at it in positive light...It wont affect your insurance although its a bit embarrassing letting them know...It will make you a better driver and you will definetly think twice about speeding etc.....You will definetly be more obseverant to road signs etc and the icing on the cake is you didnt cause a crash which beleive me is something you wouldnt get over

Eddie1980

Oh Oh ohhhh, yep I would take the advice and head off to bed! No real reason to go out this weekend anyway its wall to wall bad tempered xmas shoppers.

I feel for you, fortunately I managed to stay clear of any points for the first 6 years of driving. The three I have expire this time next month, but then they were gained thanks to that horrible woman police officer who used to drive round S****horpe in the T5. She was hiding in a bush at the bottom of Queensway as you approach the roundabout at the top of Kingsway. 3 Points and £60 for doing 45 in a 40... The time on the ticket was 1:45am on a Sunday morning. I recon she must have been under quota for the month or something.

Yes for the black and white people out there I was speeding, it was past a school. In my defense, however, it was NOT in appropriate speed, its a duel carriage way there is a big fence to keep the kids away from it, and it was quieter then an empty church.

Far cop though, I was paying more attention to chatting to my passenger then my speedo, just down right bloody annoying.

Dont worry Andy, it'll all be okay in the end! Humans ain't perfect, and while we remain imperfect the government will make a killing fining us for imperfection.

Snazy

He commited an offence, and took it on the chin. Another cop hater turns it back on them for doing their jobs.

(No disrespect here Andy) Finnigan, would you be saying the same if he had driven into you at the said traffic lights? Im guessing not.

Andy, sounds like the day from hell mate, it can only get better from here on in im sure. You sure sound like you deserve it to! Fair play and well done taking it on the chin like that too, a lot would not, and would whine about it

It took me 13 years to get my first points, then I got another 3 6 months later lol. My own stupid fault, and I was VERY lucky to get an SP50!

As for the actual tug, seeing him pull out on blues, watching people move out of his way as he made his way in behind me and then the headlights started along with the sirens..... *GULP! And having to make my way to the hard shoulder with a police escort lol. Felt like people were watching.......... obviously lol

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

do appreciate the advice guys. will give my insurers a ring tomorrow.

as i now have two seperate policies (one for the scoob and a seperate months cover for the fiat), what do i say? will it be declared on both the policies?

i took the points on the chin, as i did something wrong, the same as if i were speeding. the policeman and woman were firm but fair, and i did genuinley respect them for taking the time to talk to me when i was obviously bricking it, rather than just slap me with a fine/points and tell me to f8ck off

decided to just sleep off the bad day and start the countdown to getting the scoob fixed.

scoobynutta555

I'd imagine separate insurances on dfferent cars won't make any difference to the fact that you have the points on your licence.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

il just ring them up, tell them my two policy details and explain the situation sat night. il be as honest as poss and if it costs me more, so be it.

finalzero

I think part of the problem is how we perceive the police on the road. I am pretty sure many drivers get a little anxious and nervous when they see the law on the road - I know I have done in the past.

You end up being too careful, watching your speedo and inevitably not paying attention due to the fear that is caused by the presence of the police vehicle or police officers.

If you see them enough times you get used to it, personally I have rarely encountered police but I have to admit I have become overly cautious and it's affected my concentration (due to the stress it causes).

Bottom line is the police aggravate drivers when they are close by or in your case right up behind you - it's a sociological fear built up of the police and the ones who fear them are innocent drivers.

Put it down to experience and at least next time you will be aware of them and not so distracted by them.

finchyboy

Did you ask him why he pulled up behind you in the first place ?

I remember the first time i got pulled over i was that nervous i mounted the kurb don't worry about !!

Snazy

I think he pulled behind in AFTER the initial incident, Andy pulled over, assumed was not for him as unaware he had done anything wrong, so set off again. Then was officially stopped.

DCI Gene Hunt

Sorry to hear that CoB... and hope your mums feeling better

escott

iTrader: (1)

I got 3 points for going through a red light a couple of years ago - code was TS10 I think, although mine was a camera. At the time it made a difference to my (Elephant) insurance - went up from £330 to £400!

This was pre-scoob - it didn't make a big difference when I was looking for my new policy.

If you all promise not to laugh I'll let you know the extenuating circumstances...

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Andy, we've all done things absently mindedly behind the wheel. Unfortunately, you just got caught in an off moment. The fact that you feel bad about it speaks volumes about your character.

Don't feel bad, no real harm came of it and to err is human!!

Even the SN hang em high bunch haven't beeen on here to condemn you, so you must be doing something right!

Ns04