JAMES.M.

Having not had one of these before i'm wondering if they are worth fighting?
The 'offence' was 'contravening a red light' and was a genuine mistake in a complex new town centre traffic system. But the officer had no interest in any word of explanation on my part and just handed me the ticket! Is this normal?
If anyone could give me some advise on this it would be greatly appretiated.
I can give you more details of the offence if it helps.

Cheers....JAMES

Ian E

iTrader: (1)

If you did go through the red light you're as well taking the 3 points and £60 fine, otherwise it will go to court and you'll probably end up with more points and a bigger fine + costs

M Hutton

Jerome,

Thanks, 2 years to go then.
At least it was the date of the offence.

It was an SP50.

Mark

Stevep

JAMES.M

You have mail

Neil Smalley

Depends on the police officer as to if they give you a ticket or not. I suspect if you tried to fight it, you'd end up paying a lot more. Unfair yes, but it's the way our 'justice' system works.

You might like to try speaking to a solicitor to see if there's a loop hole you can use, but again that's going to cost more than 60 quid. There are free lawyers you can ask on the net(the one at uk speedtraps springs to mind) but I would'nt hold out much hope i'm afraid.

If you had a clean license then take the 3 points they won't affect your insurance.

Sorry I can't help anymore

JAMES.M.

Cheers for your help guys.
If i did accept the points, do you how long do they stay on the licence for?

....JAMES

Neil Smalley

Effective for 3 years, can come off the license after 4 years. Insurance brokers can ask if you've any points in the last 5 years

ptholt

3 points on a license fortunately does very little when it comes to insurance, its only when you start getting more that it starts to smart.

Plantie

From speaking to my insurer, the points stay on your license now for 4yrs and count

If you top over the dreaded 12 and have to go to court you will find that if any of those points are over 3yrs your punishment will be less and you will probably escape a ban.

Apparently the rules have changed slightly as they used to only count for 3yrs and stay visable for 4.

My Insurance broker was hanging when we had this converation so definatley worth checking it out.

Neil Smalley

Interesting.

RAver

Well, I wouldn't take this literally BUT..
About three years ago I received a pull for jumping a red light from a porker who just happened to be testing a new video-equiped unmarked police car. He issued me a fixed penalty. This was about £40 or £50.. I was very close to the cut off date when I sent the cheque -too close- the cheque came back with a note to say that my case was now going to court. It duly did -where I was fined £25!!
PIGS-IN-SPACE!!!

Jerome

The points count for 3 years from the date of *conviction* (for fixed penalty that is deemed the date of the offence)

The points can come off your licence 4 years from the date of the *offence*.

I don't know why this is the case, but it generate extra revenue for the insurance companies.

M Hutton

I know this is slightly off thread, but only just.

When do bans come of the licence?

Is it the same as points or do they have a longer shelf life?

JAMES.M.

Neil, have you got the web address for uk speedtrap?
I would like to look into this a bit more as i am not happy to just roll over and take it like the system seems geared up to make you do!
Has anyone one hear gone to court? Do you have to apear in person? Is this the only way, can't you just write a letter like you would a parking fine???

....JAMES

Jerome

M Hutton,

Most bans stay on the licence in the same way points do. Bans for D&D etc stay on for 11 years from the date of the offence.

Further info can be found at:-

AlPro

You could try writing to the Chief Constable, explaining the circumstance of the new traffic system and you made a mistake, especially if it was only just red i.e. no lives were put at risk!

My mum once got a FP ticket for stopping on Zig-Zag lines. She was only stopping to reverse back into a parking space behind. She wrote to the Chief Constable and the ticket was withdrawn. "Sorry about over-zealous officer etc."

It is worth a go!

JAMES.M.

Stevep, Ive not recieved anything??

Alpro, yep its worth a go i suppose.

Cheers again guys! Any more help greatly appretiated.
Cheers....JAMES