PS thanks for all the sympathies - now I just need a chauffeur for the ban period ;-)

Jo

 

Jo, Sorry to hear about this, you have my sympathies... bloody plod. Have you got the laser add-on for your RA?

I have noticed that the 'mobile' warning never goes off, unless my laser bit picks a laser devices. My database does not seem to contain any mobile areas

Good luck in April, just cry, I am sure that willl reduce the fine/ban a bit

 

This point came up about a month ago. I'm 99% certain that if you already have points on your licence a ban does not wipe the slate clean. It used to but not any more. What we couldn't bottom out was whether if you were banned you didn't also get any points on your licence. This certainly used to be the case and if so you have a nice issue. Do you plead for no ban, a big fine and points, or graciously accept a small ban , say 3 or 4 weeks, a lesser fine and no points. Unless your car is absolutely vital I'd take the latter any day.

 

How much have you got on your licence. If you are currently clean you are probably only looking at between 2 and 4 weeks.

I'd echo Mark's remarks. Do the court hearing yourself. Remember you need to address two issues:

1. circumstances of the offence - was the traffic heavy/light; was it daylight or at night; was the road wet or dry.

2. your circumstances. If your car is vital to you then you must get a letter from your employer to confirm this, giving an indication of how much you need your car, and how other people depend on you to be out and about winning work. This all presupposes that you have to avoid a ban if at all possible.

I would take the advice of a Solicitor experienced in RTA work. Check out the questions I've raised in the post before this, in particular if you are banned will you get points or not.

Best of luck.

 

thx for ur pm welshman

This happened to me in January well sort of, i managed to get 2 within 10min one at 101 and the second at 91. I have just got the letter confirming 3 points and

 

damn...

the bane of a fast car driver....
as everyone else says...dress smart, be real sorry...n explain how u need the car for work n everything...
i got off with

 

I tend to agree that you can do your own mitigation, provided that you're reasonably comfortable about speaking up in a court room environment - they can be quite intimidating places when you're not used to them.

Instead of waiting in the witness waiting area for your case to be called, go and sit in court at the back and get used to the atmosphere. It also gives you a chance to assess the bench themselves and see how they react to other cases.

Good luck. Above all be contrite and repentant - sob a lot if you can manage it!

 

Jo, I would follow Mark Turner's advice. I've seen that kind of information posted before but Mark does have the 'knack' of putting it accurately and concisely.

Humility and genuine respect for the crime u have committed is always good in anyone's eyes.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kelk
Jo, I would follow Mark Turner's advice.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys - my license is clean and I have letter from my employer and my advanced driving instructor etc.

However, they originally gave me the option to plead guilty by post which I took (on advice from a few solicitors) and included all that documentation then, but wasn't enough sadly, and the case was adjourned for a consideration for disqualification.

The Road Angel did have the laser attachment on it at the time, but it didn't fire - the laser is so specific - a little red dot on your number plate - that the chances of it going off are remote. Plus it's 0.3 secs for them to get a lock on your speed so unless you can brake super-quick probably pointless anyway (probably takes longer than a second for you to hear RA beep and brake anyway).

I think I may "go it alone" and put the money towards the fine/taxi's/trains etc. - anybody know what the proceedings are as I've never even been in a court room before....