Just got my first speeding ticket...?

Question

I was doing 75mph on a national A road early on the morning with very little other traffic.

First question: is there any way of getting out of the fixed penalty notice to save me getting 3 points?

Second question: I went to purchase a Snooper Sapphire speed camera detector at my local Halfords. Were I travel there are no fixed cameras, just mobile laser detector vans. The guy at Halfords basically said speed detectors do not detect laser cameras most of the time because the operator aims the laser at your bumper and the detector cant read it. Is this true? If not can someone please reccommend a reliable detector for laser speed detectors.

And no I am not a speed demon! Im a sensible driver.

Answer 1

Yes, it happens. But if you have already got the ticket then the only thing you can do is pay up the £60.00 and accept the 3 points on your licence. If this is the first ticket you have had, you have 9 points to go before you lose your licence (UK). So be careful in the future. To those sanctimonious s o b s who pontificate, you probably can't even drive ! Speed cameras are simply a way to make more money out of the already overburdened motorist and do not help keep the roads safe. As to detectors there are some that give warning of radar , but these are not legal now. However, what you can get is a device which gives you warning of the whereabouts of cameras. On the whole, though , keeping to the limit is the only safe way.

Answer 2

Firstly if they "clocked" you at 75 then you were probably doing nearer 80 on the speedo. It's an EEC directive for your car speed to read faster than your real speed but by no more than 10%. A lot of car manufacturers use this to make there cars see faster than they rally are!! Therefore you're typically stuffed on the 3 points unless they failed to calibrate the speed gun.



However enough slagging off. To answer your 2nd Q. During transmission in air, laser light diverges at a set rate. From some of the sums I've done the so called "dot" shined at your bumper from over 1/2 mile away is actually over 10 feet in diameter. At that type of range there is a lot of scattered light going in all directions that laser detectors can respond to. However Mr PC Plod knows this and therefore waits until you are close enough that the dot gives minimum scatter - so you should be able to see him. Personally my preference is to a) stick to the speed limit and b) my sat nav has all the potential camera locations downloaded to warn me to keep an eye on both the speed limit and the cameras

Answer 3

In the US we have the option of taking a defensive driving course where they teach you how to drive safer. These course can be taken instead of paying fines and will remove the ticket from your record. I would ask if this is an option in your area.



2nd Question: Radar/laser detectors have come a long way in being able to detect the police before he detects you. However, the police have become quite good at preventing detection. For older style radar guns, the detection of the radar waves is pretty easy. However, they police have 'instant on' guns now that only produce a short burst which reduces the chance of you detector picking it up. For new Laser types, the detection of the light waves becomes really tough. These light beams or very tight and directional and thus difficult to detect. Think of the old radar style as a shot gun and the laser style as a rifle. It's easier to see the larger pattern of shot gun over the single bullet of laser. Also laser guns only produce short burst by design thus again reducing the chance of early detection.



Like most things, radar/laser detectors ability to perform is relative to their cost. Spend more money... get better detection. Several magazines have done comparitive test on the detectors and if you search online for 'Laser Detector comparison' I'm sure you'll find plenty of research to help you with your choice.



Good luck.. and slow down!

Answer 4

I sympathise, but honestly "it's a fair cop".



I'm assuming by looking at the figures that you drive a van, and as such were only allowed to do 60 or the dual carriageway. - could be wrong.



I've been pulled by plod for doing about 70.5mph in the work van...well I did overtake them doing about 69.5 in the pursuit vehicle at the head of a MASSIVE queue they'd created) - just got a telling off.



75mph actual will be about 82mph on the speedo - so you knew you were going a bit quick, but I agree. 75mph is nothing - I might feel you were irresponsible if you said 105mph or 125mph.... but 15mph over is gonna be a standard £60 and 3 points unless you TRY to fight it, if you lose it's the same fine & points and also court costs - could be a couple of £1000.



As for the RADAR & LASER detectors, it IS true that they attempt to aim them at a flat surface (to reflect the beam back) and that it can be over 10' in size, but tracking a moving vehicle is near impossible to do perfectly. Also, it takes under 0.25 seconds to read your speed - so if you are the 'target'...you've had it. The detectors are pretty much useless - get a GPS based system & put on the S.Camera files. 100% legal in the UK.

I'd advise TomTom...great system.



Anyway....I am sorry you got done for such a minor infraction.

Answer 5

Unless you are able to find some irregularity wth the paperwork and procedure, you are unlikely to be able to avoid this.



You do not give enough information for me to be able to comment on where you might look for areas where the authorities may have failed to follow the legally-required procedures.



Be wary of the various chargeable websites which claim to be able to find 'loopholes' to get you off the hook; Autoexpress did an article on these recently, and found them to be pretty useless. You might check the Auto Express site to see if the article is still available, because it did contain some useful general information.



No doubt you will have seen the recent official report which confirms what TRUE experts have been saying for years, that excessive speed is a factor in only 5% of accidents.



I am NOT a lawyer, but my advice would be to pay up, because a court may feel that such a margin over the posted limit might warrant a higher penalty.



You have my sympathy - for this, and also for the usual and predictable self-righteous loonie comments contained in some of the other answers.



Best wishes!

Answer 6

I have a speed camera detector and it does 'sound off' a warning when approaching parked up SAFETY VEHICLES from which the speed cameras are operated. I am not a constant 'speed' merchant but the warning device does make me aware when keeping up with other vehicles on motorways and major dual carriageways. Most vehicles on the motorways do exceed the 70 mph limit and occasionally speed cameras are operated from bridges. Many times I have to pulled over to the inside lane and slowed down - only to witness numerous vehicles passing at 70 plus.

Answer 7

1. Pay the fine, and take the points. Be thankful you didn't take a life instead! Very little traffic on the road is no excuse.



2. Save your money. If you aren't a speed demon - as you state - then why do you need this expensive piece of technology?



As for being hypercritical, 15mph is a huge difference. No one expects you to watch your speedometer over the road, therefore 3 or 4mph extra can be justified. But if you can't tell or feel the difference between 60mph and 75mph, then you shouldn't be driving at all. You are lucky that you still have your licence!

Answer 8

You can elect to attend court rather than pay your speeding fine! However, the speed limit is there for a reason - no matter what the rest of us might think. Unfortunately the general public CANNOT decide what speed they THINK it is safe to do, when they feel like it.



Yes, we all speed occasionally and in doing so, we know and accept that we could get caught.



If you ever get stopped, don't try telling the police that you were unaware of your speed as you were watching the road! Whilst you are driving a couple of tonnes (or whatever weight!) of steel (or whatever), you are effectively driving what can become a lethal weapon.



So, you can try your luck in court if you think you have a genuine reason and defence for your speeding. But I don't know if the magistrates would agree that sensible drivers exceed the limit!



Your choice.

Answer 9

If it was a motorway then 75 is not that fast and you possibly can argue the case in court, but 75 in a normal 60MPH national speed limit road is very dangerous - I think you should pay the fine.



I think you should save the money from a speed detector and spend the money on other things like books and DVDs that you will enjoy.



Remember they love to fine you for anything so don't give them an excuse to fine you!



Have fun and be safe!

Answer 10

law enforcement officers off accountability get rushing tickets each and every of the time, some officers will supply a off accountability cop some allowance, yet whilst it is over, even carrying a badge won't enable you to. And to three officers, in case you're a officer, they beleive you realize extra valuable, additionally generally there are subject concerns between city and county officers, and that they seem for of undertaking to write down up one among the different officers. Very seldom might a officer on accountability get a value ticket, even nonetheless it would desire to ensue, I even have seen a on accountability officer have a smash in his patrol card and get a value ticket for some thing. ** and that i've got seen them fastened by potential of the police cheif calling the different departmetn additionally.

Answer 11

don't worry about it! speeding don't really do anything to your insurance. but I'm afraid your just going to have to stump up the £60 and take the 3 points.



To everybody else saying don't speed in the first place, JUST GET A LIFE! i will almost guarantee that either you don't drive in which case you havee no right to comment on his driving or you hav done 15 mph over the speed limit in those situations so stop being a hypocrite.

Answer 12

i got my first speeding ticket a cpl weeks back...if ur caught fair and square thn jst take ur ticket n pay ur fine...if u contest it ull end up paying more. ive nvr bothered bout camera detectors n play it safe...i speed n whn i do i tend to keep more of an eye out bt if i get caught thn i knew wht i was doin ( hence nt judging u, i speed all the time id be a liar if i said i didnt) also jst for the record not all cops r scum....i got caught on a country road doin 90mph with the police right behind me....had jst drivin 400 miles n had jst switched off n was cruising along nt noticing wht speed i was at....i got a telling off bt only had to produce documents as he understood whr i was coming from.

Answer 13

It's easier to get out of if it's a company vehicle because unless you've signed a logbook saying you were the driver then you deny you were the driver and the company get the fine for failing to keep the logbook up to date. And photographs aren't for proof of who the driver is just that the vehicle was in the said time and place of the "crime" in question.



If it's your own car then there's not a great deal you can do except pay it and accept the points. Generally insurance companies won't increase your premium for 3 points but if you get to 6 then they hit you harder!

Answer 14

There are GPS systems that warn when approaching both fixed and mobile camera positions. The mobile unit usually won't be there, of course, but better warned than not!



You can also add that data to a SatNav unit, for it to do the same thing.



Bredt defence is to watch the speedo, though.

Answer 15

Show up for court. Many times the ticketing officer will not show up. You won't get out of the ticket, but they'll usually plea it down to something more reasonable.



A sensible driver doesn't go 75 in what I'm guessing was a 55 zone. You don't usually get a ticket and three points for 10 MPH over the limit. Were you going 20 over?



Really, slow down or your insurance will go through the roof, and you'll lose your license for a few months or more. It's really not worth it, is it?



.

Answer 16

Don't worry about it chief, these penalties are so common now that the insurance companies basically don't care about them, your premium should hardly change.



As for the fine, I wouldn't bother fighting it, it would be a complete waste of time. Just take it on the chin n be thankful it wasn't 5 points (like what i got!)

Answer 17

i drive for a living an every day without fail i speed ,bin caught got the points an paid the fine, no you cant get out of it( mores the pity )buy a sat nav an download all the speed traps to it ,all i know is that next time one ot them bastards flashes me wi a lazer im gonna head straight for him lol

Answer 18

Congratulations!! Now get an attorney and have it reduced. Will probably cost more than the original ticket, but will save on points.

Answer 19

The national limit for a dual carriageway is 70mph it is 60 mph for single carriageway so don't know how you got stopped for being 5mph over the limit

Answer 20

Question 1 No



Question 2 Its not true



recommendation no slow down

Answer 21

You were going too fast, and have nothing to complain about.



If you had been 4/5 mph over the limit, then you could fight it.



I do sympathise though

Answer 22

to answer your question 1 ......just pray you receave nothing in the coming 6 weeks....not valid after that delay

question 2...... i also heard that the best detectors should be installed around or near the registery plate !!

Answer 23

You're a sensible driver doing 75mph on a national road - contradicted yourself there haven't you?!!!



Sorry didn't mean to criticise in that way, but the speed limits are there for a reason. The road may have been clear but if an animal or a bird was to suddenly obstruct you then you might not have been here asking this question.

Answer 24

Sensible drivers don't speed. Pay the fine and stop whinging about it. Just be thankful a pedestrian didn't step in front of your 2 tonne speeding death trap.

Answer 25

They're called speed limits for a reason...it's a LIMIT. Quick breaking the law and you won't have to worry about trying to beat the system.

Answer 26

I have a better idea, why don't you just slow down and save some money. Guess idiots don't slow down, just speed, indangering other peoples lives.

Answer 27

first don't speed and you wont get tickets and second there's no way out of it, so pay the fine and you can do traffic school so it does not go on your record, but you cant get other ticket for 18month or that one will stay on your record !!





SLOW DOWN !!!!!!!!!

Answer 28

congratulations join the club

Answer 29

stop being a naughty boy and you wont get yourself in a mess like this again!!

you need a spanking!! lol xx

Answer 30

yay they popped your traffic cherry.

Answer 31

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