FunkiBluDawg

Caught Speeding ? Tips on saving your licence..

I got done for speeding some time back. 39mph in a 30mph zone.


When I did get the "Notice of Intended Prosecution", I did a fair amount of research into how to avoid this. Note that if you plead guilty straight away, they generally give you a fine+points on your licence.

My findings/tips :

• The "Notice of Intended Prosecution" must be given to the offender (you) within 14 days of the offence. If you have been stopped by the cops, they must give you this in writing or verbally.
• If you do end up being stopped. Beg the officer for mercy. Be genuinely repentant. Depending on how bad your offence is or how your begging performace goes, the office MAY just let you go after a caution.
• If begging fails and you get the NIP. Most people payup straight away. But you can still fight through the judiciary. (If in doubt you can fight it, the worst thing you will be convicted of, is your original offence). It is only worth it, if you are sure that you are innocent otherwise be prepared for hefly bills if you fail.
  
• If you do intend to fight the case, DO NOT admit guilt. DO NOT surrender your licence at the road side. Or give ANY excuses which will then be taken as admission of guilt.
• Make sure its you who was been caught by the camera. You could try to plead that it was someone else. (Ask for the photographic evidence).
  
• Failure to identify the driver who committed the offence will still lead of prosecution with possibly even BIGGER penalties. Recent cases have failed using this method.
• See "Fighting it out in the court"

Notice of Intended Prosecution

Make sure the proof against you exists. Ask the following :

• Photographic Evidence. Is the car in the picture the same car which commited the offence. If the offender identified from the picture / police video ?
  
• Is the speed detection equipment accurate / maintained properly ?
  
• Correct procedures have been followed during the offence being recored ?
  

Fighting it out in the court

• Gather your evidence. (ie evidence to help prove you are not guilty). Location, detection equipment details, position of other cars.
• Investigate possibility of mistakes on the officers part.
• Revist the scene of the offence and note any details which can prove that the officer may not be in the best position to record the offence correctly.
• It pays to be well dressed in court. And be courteous to everyone.

Avoid Detection

• Drive sensibly and obey the rules.
  
• Speeding in Builtup areas and school zones is meaningless. Try to impress somewhere else.
• Flash cars, bright colours will attract attention. Including the cops.
• Be the 2nd fastest. Let the fastest one attract all the attention
• Devices :
  Radar Detectors => Generally work well. Though some types will detect more types than others.
  Jammers => Illegal in several countries. May not work for all types of speed detectors.
  Special "Magic" Number Plates => I dont think these work. I think similar to snake oil.
  GPS Based Warning => Either stand alone or as a part of a SatNav solution. These work very well, though they depend on a database of speed camera locations. Normally this method is the cheapest and the best.
• Once detected, if the cops are following you, Do not attempt to evade/outrun the cops. Almost always you will be caught. (Cops have better/faster cars than you. If not they have helicopters, so dont even bother). There are better ways on appearing on TV.
• Learn to identify unmarked cop cars.

Unmarker Police Cars

Though normally difficult to identify, something they can be easier to spot.

• Cars with 2 occupants and in flourescent clothing/ some kind of similar attire.
• Attempt to conceal their detection equipment in the car. Maybe suspicious lumps ?
• Multiple Aerials sometimes.
• Vauxhall Omegas, Vectras. New Volvos. Generally black or dark colours.
  

posted by FunkiBluDawg @ 10:46 pm