Hi Stuart,

I’ve just got a question regarding the difference between SP codes. I understand the codes for SP50 (Exceeding speed limit on a motorway) and SP30 (Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road) but I’m a bit unsure of what an SP20 (Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles)) is?

As I have just received one of these……Doh!!!

Thanks.

DazW.

 

check out

 

If you are towing a caravan at over 50mph on a motorway I presume you're likely to get a SP20, i.e. you're not exceeding the statutory speed limit but you are exceeding the limit for that type of vehicle. There are probably countless other combinations (like 50cc mopeds or something).

 

Alex + Carl,

The thing I don't understand is that I was just driving my 'car' and I don't have a caravan or trailer???....but I was going quite quickly up the Ashbourne by pass, if anyone is interested.

 

What car was it??
Is the road dual carriage way or ???

rgds, Alex

 

Its a dual carriage way (up the hill - a sort of crawler lane) and a single carriage way down the hill!

 

What sort of vehicle were you driving and what was the recorded speed?

Can't really make any guesses until I know that.

 

Carl,

Useless info but you can now do 60mph with a trailer on dualcarriageways and motorways.

Lee

 

Is it not worth checking when the Hondas speedo was last calibrated, I seem to remember without it being calibrated that day there is nothing they can do, maybe cause you accepted it its a different case. I stand to be corrected !

Jase

 

Jase,

Get ready to be corrected!!

The speedometer is calibrated & certificated every time the vehicle is serviced (with the use of a rolling road). They are tested against the vehicles VASCAR unit or a laser/radar device regularly, however there is no requirement (nor would it be possible) to calibrate the speedometer every day.

[This message has been edited by Stuart H (edited 07 November 2000).]

 

Stuart,

I drive a Celica GT4, and like I said before I dont have a caravan/ trailer or even a towbar!, my recorded speed was 70 and the speed limit was 50, and I was 'done' by the local 'sarge' who was in an unmarked Honda Civic, which luckily for me had no VASCAR 'cus if he did i'd have been well and truly stuffed.

DazW.

 

Dazw.

What device did the officer use, then, to determine you were exceeding the speed limit?

Did you accept a FPN?

C

 

What device did he use to get the 'recorded speed'? Did you actually see the device he was using? What force area are you in?

Apologies for all the questions, I'm still none the wiser on why he's dished out an SP20.

[This message has been edited by Stuart H (edited 07 November 2000).]

 

I would have thought you could get away with this one on the grounds that you weren't exceeding the speed limit for the type of vehicle.

 

Stuart,

Yeah I know, it just doesn't make any sense.

The equipment used was his trusty in car speedo and at first he was considering a wreckless/dangerous driving route, but after consulting his colleagues (the three traffic units that then turned up) he 'offered' the FPN instead. Which, considering the other options, was probably for the best.

So I've sent off my licence, expecting an SP30 but no, it comes back with an SP20 ???

DazW.

 

What did it say in the 'Offence Code' box on the FPN? Which force area are we talking?

(Just checking I've got my facts straight: You've received your licence back from the endorsing court and its has been endorsed with SP20??)

 

Stuart,

Yep, thats the situation, I'll try and see if I've still got the FPN, the area force is Derbyshire

DazW

 

It could be that the convicting court has boobed when they were endorsing your licence (not unknown).

Best see if you can dig out your copy of the FPN to check what the officer put in the OC box. If that says SP30 you need to contact the convicting court to have the mistake corrected.

 

Stuart,

I've dug out the FPN, and the offence code is 032 Exeed 50 mph (70).

DazW

 

Best check it with the Ticket Office (number on the back of the FPN) or the convicting court.


[This message has been edited by Stuart H (edited 07 November 2000).]

 

Was the officer alone?

What device did the officer use to corroborate his ascertion that you were speeding?

C

 

I reckon this 'reckless/dangerous/careless' driving threat is just something to scare you into taking the FPN rather than contest it ie take the 3 points option, rather than risk a serious court case.

I got stopped recently by a local (non-traffic) cop, on his own.

He clearly had no fix on my actual speed along a local B road though he suggested 80-90mph which was pretty accurate! He said he'd been doing over 100mph to catch me (in a mondeo estate!).

I'd got stuck behind a large lorry and he pulled me over about 4 miles down the road after he caught up.

He didn't have the lights/siren on when I saw him coming up and didn't put them on until about 15 seconds later.

He then proceeded to threated a careless driving charge because of the nature of my driving.

He can only have seen me accelerating out of a (rigorously observed) 30mph zone and overtaking one car and he wasn't visible in the mirrors until he caught me (yes, I do check them!).

I was fairly bemused at such a threat! In the end after me eating a serious slice of humble pie and appologising a lot, he said as I needed the car for work he would overlook it this time - have to admit, the 'threat' of a dangerous/careless driving charge got me incredibly worried at the time!!

 

Ca

Yea, that's what I used to think aswell ( ). I'm sure Stuart will confirm that is not the case. Urban myth I'm afraid. If the guy who pulled you over wants to - he can report you. He doesn't need to be with a colleague or have a calibrated speedo etc. It is basically his word against yours (now who do you think the court is going to believe? )

Chris

Stuart - ever thought of doing an FAQ doc on this sort of thing(like whether those little black rat stickers actually make a difference (if so, where can I get one ))


[This message has been edited by Chris L (edited 08 November 2000).]

 

ca, kryten,

The difference was, that I went past him and he was travelling at the posted limit and I was errr... travelling in excess of that by some margin and fair enough I was speeding so I held my hands up and said I thought it was national speed limit, hence the 70 in a 50. I didn't really want to take the proverbial and didn't fancy a day in court.

DazW.

 

Dazw,

Yes yes BUT there are rules for this type of thing.

As I understand it, he needs to have someone (a colleague) or something (VASCAR, Lasar) to corroborate his ascertion that you were speeding.

Could be wrong, though.

BTW, I applaud your decision to put your hands up (especially since you were so far over the limit) but that does negate the fact that rules have to be observed (by the police)

C

 

There is an FAQ on

 

OK Stuart - it's been a bad day - I hadn't checked there!!

What I was also thinking about was doing some kind of FAQ on the 'Urban Myths' surrounding speeding.

Cheers

Chris

[This message has been edited by Chris L (edited 08 November 2000).]