Advice for those caught speeding

[bakerdcb]

12 months ago I was clocked at 103mph in my RS4 on the A417 dual carriageway heading for Swindon by one of these wretched white vans in a lay-by. Just so you know, the road was pretty desserted and the van was miles away from me when it got me. No chance to spot it and I have a laser Snooper which didn't go off. (It has warned me in the past) Because of the speed and since I have 9 points already I thought I was in the S**t.

Just to put my points into perspective in case you think I'm some kind of hair brained nutter. 3 were for 35mph in a 30, caught by Gatso on a completely empty road in Worcester, just not quite concentrating on a camera I've known about for years.
3 were for using a mobile phone whilst driving, when a local cop in an Astra saw me hand my mobile, which had just rung to my passenger for answering. This is the absolute truth. He was in a side road as I drove through Leominster and saw me do this as I passed him. Despite 3 colleagues in my car all voucing for me he did me anyway and I couldn't be bothered to go to court.
My first 3 were for doing 86mph on the A9 dual carriageway in Scotland in my S3, 4 years ago. Mobile trap on a bridge. This one I took on the chin and were obviously still 'current' 12 months ago when this other incident happened

In 22 years of driving I've never had an accident, crashed a car or caused an accident to my knowledge so the prospect of a ban and big fine didn't exactly fill me with joy and seem fair when I drive 25000 miles a year and see all manner of appaling and dangerous driving every day. I bit the bullet and contacted motoringlawyers.com, a firm I found on the web and have absolutely no connection with I hasten to add. To cut a long story short on the 11th of this month I was acquitted of the charge and granted costs.

My advice would be to seek professional assistance should you find yourself in this situation in future. I would never condone reckless fast driving but I do not consider myself to be a poor driver. I am a victim of a system which penalises those of us who are legal, taxed, insured, registered, traceable and over legislated against when it comes to driving. A system set up to make money rather than clamp down on dangerous driving. Initially, I have had to lay out a fair amount of money to fight this but I was given a good indication of my chances at the outset by the firm named above and I took their advice which has proven to be honest and worthwhile.

I would also like to add this is not the reason I sold the RS4 a few months back to another guy on the forum and replaced it with an A6 3.0 TDI Quattro Avant le Mans. My 3 children just got bigger and its a stop gap while I save up for a V10 RS6

[Nige_RS4]

Hey Dean, hope you are well.

Could you clarify exactly how they managed to get you off the hook?

[Daveperc]

I can really sympathise - just been through something similar myself using Freeman see thread below).

How much would you have paid to the lawyers if you hadn't won?

Dave

[derdle]

Deane, glad to hear about your victory against our corrupt system. I bet it's been a worrying year for you - glad it's all over before Christmas.

Note for Mods...is it worth approaching them for site sponsoship?

Paul

[bakerdcb]

Cheers Paul- Merry Christmas. To be honest the moment I handed things over to the solicitors they completely protected me from any contact with the courts etc. They did a very good job of reassuring me and keeping me informed and feeling positive, so for peace of mind alone it was worth it and I've not been too worried, especially as its been going on now for 12 months.
Hi Nige- We'll have to have another pub meet soon if you will allow me to attend with a diesel!!. In terms of how I got off I can't exactly say yet. From the very beginning it appears that there were a number of technicalities and matters of protocol which were not correctly followed and a few statements and pieces of evidence which were either not presented or incorrectly handled. From what I can gather this is why the solicitors were so confident about the case and they have been proven right. I just let them get on with it. If I can any further details I'll post them up but I gather the whole court thing is riddled with issues that can be challenged and if any 1 thing is not correct then that technicality might just get you off. Its a case of knowing the law which these specialist firm clearly do.
Dave my costs were high because I went for a complete acquital. To begin with I put down £500 for them to take on the case and when I was told it was worth challenging I paid a further £1000 to take it to court. 1 hearing in the summer was postponed but that wasn't our fault and this did mean I had to pay again for my barrister to appear for me at another hearing because it was postponed at short notice. However, they didn't charge me in advance and won't now since I have also been awarded costs and expect to get back most of, if not all of my £1500.
It is perhaps worth adding that if I was going to plead guilty this is considerably cheaper- half the price and then you get representation in order to do a 'deal.' instead. Eg. reduced ban/fine/points etc.

[Daveperc]

Hi Dean

Interesting - Freeman charged £300 for the initial assessment and £3K to take it through the courts. Their admin was a bit flaky along the way, and I have yet to see any money back from the claim for costs. (case heard mid Nov)

Looks like you got good value and service

Dave

[Daveperc]

PS - Just called Freeman - apparently it can take up to six months for the court to refund the costs, so for now HMG sits with £3k of my money earning interest!

Don't you just love the system!

Dave

[bakerdcb]

Hi Dave.
I was told the same thing. Money would be refunded ASAP but that it often takes the courts 4-6 months to decide what is reasonable. I do feel I had good service and I certainly always spoke to people who knew the case and were helpful and organised. I'm not too resentful about waiting for the money as I'm still too relieved at the moment but if it was £3000 I may feel a little different.

[jimbo1234567]

deane, your a very bad man. hope things are ok. the cars going for some major upgrades soon and hopefully itll be able to hit 105 mph

[sonny]

Nice one mate glad to hear it!

It is a shame that we are an easy target!

My friend is a copper in Medway towns in Kent, he observed some CCTV footage on one of the local Dual carriageway and he informed me that 1 in 4 cars had insurance, now that's a high statistic.

Do you see the police stopping and fining the illegal taxis that Run in London?...no of course you don't!...Look I'm not anti police far from it, I have loads of friends in the Plod, and i think they do a OK Job, its just when it comes to the motoring conviction side that's gets on my goat!..RANT OVER

[derdle]

that 1 in 4 cars had insurance

Or do you mean 1 in 4 cars didn't have insurance?

Paul

[sonny]

that 1 in 4 cars had insurance

Or do you mean 1 in 4 cars didn't have insurance?

Paul

No he said 1 in 4 HAD insurance, 3 that are not covered! ludicrous, but hey this is the population of the Medway towns, more pykies you can shake a stick at!

[derdle]

'kinell!

[JohnRet.]

That's one in four cars in the UK. Including any that are SORNed or covered by a mass policy such as hire cars etc. So it's really not that bad.