Speeding Offence

[bjones371]

Hi all,

I know this is an invitation to lots of people telling me not to speed but I'm just looking for advice not a grilling! I think a speed camera has just flashed me about half an hour ago, I was in a 30mph zone, and don't think I was doing anything over 34/35, it was genuinely an accident I didn't even realise at all...

Basically I was just wondering if anybody knows if the CTO are likely to offer me a speed awareness course (I believe its anything over 38mph that the course doesn't apply?) and will I still be offered said course even though I have only been driving around 10 months? Also, I noticed that the camera that flashed was painted in red, but have seen this:

"Q - Do all cameras have to be painted yellow? [top]

A - (ATS) Red Light Cameras do not have to be yellow, although most are now in Greater Manchester. All speed cameras do have to be yellow though."

It was not a red light camera as far as I am aware and so could the ticket be invalidated on this basis? Want to avoid court and all that so won't be taking it too extreme, just wondering what you thought my chances would be on either getting the course or getting the ticket invalidated on that basis?

Again, I know I shouldn't have been speeding and I don't do it regular, but I could do with some light on this matter if anybody knows?

Thanks

B

 

[PuntoSS]

Well they're unlikely to put you on a speed awareness course for doing 34 in a 30 zone. Probably a warning or a fine at the most.

 

[bjones371]

Hmmm... hope it is that simple! Just want to avoid the possibility of points to be honest, I know that if you get offered and accept the course, then you pay £80 (I think) and go on a 4 hour course and then you don't have to have the points, so thats kind of what I'm banking on!

 

[Caravadossi]

I know this is an invitation to lots of people telling me not to speed but I'm just looking for advice not a grilling! I think a speed camera has just flashed me about half an hour ago, I was in a 30mph zone, and don't think I was doing anything over 34/35...

I'd be surprised if a camera was calibrated to snap you at 35 in a 30. The course would be full! Most folks when faced with a 30 merely drop to 35 anyway - to take-up the speedo over-read margin.

But then (as you say) you only "think" you didn't go over 35 - or you may have varied your tyre size, which may have messed-up your speedo accuracy.

.

 

[bjones371]

Far as I know tyres are still the same (15" on a GP Active)... And to be fair when I say 34/35 I did actually account for the fact my speedo is about 2-3mph over the actual speed my GPS gives out when driving.

 

[Caravadossi]

... And to be fair when I say 34/35 I did actually account for the fact my speedo is about 2-3mph over the actual speed my GPS gives out when driving.

So presumably we’re now talking 37(+/-1) indicated mph in a 30 limit & hence your convinced that something’s imminent in the Royal Mail – the either/or of a speed course or fine.

Then I guess you’ll receive some doc advising what speed they recorded. The question is – how do they grade the speed? … are there fixed grade boundaries, or are they variable? For example, if you’re under n mph do you merely get a caution (if that’s the right word?), between 35-40 get `the course’, & over 40 a fine. Do the speed boundaries for `the course’ vary depending on the number of places available?

I believe in some areas you’re offered the course if detected at 37(+/-2) mph in a 30 limit. 48(+/-2) mph in a 40 limit.

Let us know the outcome.

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[sammiboo]

Well they're unlikely to put you on a speed awareness course for doing 34 in a 30 zone. Probably a warning or a fine at the most.

Where did you get that information from?

If people are done by a camera then they will get points. I know of about 5 people who were doing 34/35 and had points and fine.

Hs mum was telling me her friend got done for doing 32. They told her it was a zero tolerance zone.

 

[Caravadossi]

If people are done by a camera then they will get points. I know of about 5 people who were doing 34/35 and had points and fine.

Hs mum was telling me her friend got done for doing 32. They told her it was a zero tolerance zone.

Can't say I'm an authority on speeding as I've no convictions - but my understanding is that you'll know with some degree of certainty what their (the 5 etc) detection speed was from the points/fine handed-out. For example, if they received 4 points - then it wasn't for doing 34/35. You have to take into account `human nature' - i.e. something of what they say may not be true.

Amended 2009/05/02 13:54
What points did they receive?

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[johnw]

Basically I was just wondering if anybody knows if the CTO are likely to offer me a speed awareness course (I believe its anything over 38mph that the course doesn't apply?) and will I still be offered said course even though I have only been driving around 10 months?

Some areas do speed awareness courses up to 36 and some up to 38. Some don't do awareness courses at all. In any event there are cash limits and if they have run out of cash then nobody gets a course until the next financial year. The lenght of time you have been driving is not a factor in whether you get a course or not.

Also, I noticed that the camera that flashed was painted in red, but have seen this:

"Q - Do all cameras have to be painted yellow? [top]

A - (ATS) Red Light Cameras do not have to be yellow, although most are now in Greater Manchester. All speed cameras do have to be yellow though."

It was not a red light camera as far as I am aware and so could the ticket be invalidated on this basis?

Camera colour is sometimes related to who gets the cash. You have no chance of getting off a ticket because of camera colour.

 

[johnw]

If people are done by a camera then they will get points. I know of about 5 people who were doing 34/35 and had points and fine.

Very few cameras have film in all the time but they still flash as a deterrent. Many areas offer speed awareness courses for relatively low speeds. In those cases no points are involved.

her friend got done for doing 32.

did you actually see the ticket with 32 on it? I have never seen one with less than 34.

They told her it was a zero tolerance zone.

The idea of prosecuting every body who does 1mile over the limit has been suggested many times, but permission has never been granted.

 

[The Beard]

As far as I'm aware, there are 3 kinds of cameras operating in Tameside, as I'm making the assumption it was there. Enforceable cameras are either yellow in which case I think they are GMP funded and they will prosecute the offence with the fine going, I think to the Road Safety Partnership like the one on the dual carriageway stretch of the A57 Manchester Rd., near Denton Golf Club. There is the black type such as that on Stockport Rd., down the hill from the Fletchers coming up from Bredbury which I think was funded by Tameside Council because it was their decision to paint them black, although come to think of it, isn't there a yellow one outside the Fletchers as well? The third type is the Watchman camera such as the one on Windmill Lane outside the brick works opposite the gasometers (makes Denton sound really upmarket doesn't it?) which aren't for enforcement. If the same vehicle keeps triggering the camera the Council will inform the Police who may then set up a mobile camera.

D'oh!!! I should have just asked you where it was and that would have saved all that typing. So, where was the camera then matey? While I think of it, are you coming to The Romper tomorrow (Sunday). Have a look in the events thread. It starts at 3pm.

 

[PuntoSS]

Where did you get that information from?

If people are done by a camera then they will get points. I know of about 5 people who were doing 34/35 and had points and fine.

Hs mum was telling me her friend got done for doing 32. They told her it was a zero tolerance zone.

Heh, that's what I was saying, it's unlikely they'll have to redo a course for doing 2 - 5 miles over, but more likely to get the points...

 

[sammiboo]

did you actually see the ticket with 32 on it? I have never seen one with less than 34.

As i said in my post. It was a friends of my boyfriends mum - why would i have seen the ticket of someone i dont know

Maybe its something you could look into :chin:

 

[johnw]

reason I asked is that lots of people claim to have got a ticket for 31 or 32 and say that its not fair, and try to shift the blame from themselves to the camera people. Presumably they find it less embarrassing than admitting that they failed to see the signs and were caught doing 40 or more in a 30 limit.

 

[5abr3]

Where did you get that information from?

If people are done by a camera then they will get points. I know of about 5 people who were doing 34/35 and had points and fine.

Hs mum was telling me her friend got done for doing 32. They told her it was a zero tolerance zone.

I know of a family member who got done by a camera and got sent on a speed awareness course, a lot depends on if they are feeling zero-tolerance or not that day.

 

[The Beard]

Well they're unlikely to put you on a speed awareness course for doing 34 in a 30 zone. Probably a warning or a fine at the most.

You don't get a telling off through the Royal Mail.

Hmmm... hope it is that simple! Just want to avoid the possibility of points to be honest, I know that if you get offered and accept the course, then you pay £80 (I think) and go on a 4 hour course and then you don't have to have the points, so thats kind of what I'm banking on!

Unfortunately this sounds as if you would go on it, try not to fall asleep; then just carry on as before.

I'd be surprised if a camera was calibrated to snap you at 35 in a 30. The course would be full! Most folks when faced with a 30 merely drop to 35 anyway - to take-up the speedo over-read margin.

But then (as you say) you only "think" you didn't go over 35 - or you may have varied your tyre size, which may have messed-up your speedo accuracy.

.

Alas, the majority of drivers (and I use the word loosely) have no idea what the speed limit of the road they're driving on is. One of the roads I mentioned earlier, Stockport Rd., Denton travelling towards Denton, the speed limit was reduced last year from 40 to 30. While it was 40 there was a speed camera on it. since the limit was reduced the camera has been removed, but the white graduation marks on the road are still there. I've lost count of the number of times drivers travelling at 30 suddenly brake and we end up with a long line of cars all dragging up the hill at 25.

Where did you get that information from?

If people are done by a camera then they will get points. I know of about 5 people who were doing 34/35 and had points and fine.

Hs mum was telling me her friend got done for doing 32. They told her it was a zero tolerance zone.

Depends on local policy. Wales is governed by the Traffic Taliban at one time under the dictatorial leadership of Mullah Merydydd (sp?) Hughes. 32 in a 30 would result in the miscreant being ritually disembowled and their entrails hung from the battlements of Caernarfon Castle.

reason I asked is that lots of people claim to have got a ticket for 31 or 32 and say that its not fair, and try to shift the blame from themselves to the camera people. Presumably they find it less embarrassing than admitting that they failed to see the signs and were caught doing 40 or more in a 30 limit.

I believe you are right on that one. It's obviously someone else's fault.

I know of a family member who got done by a camera and got sent on a speed awareness course, a lot depends on if they are feeling zero-tolerance or not that day.

There is no zero-tolerance about it. Local policy will decide as to whether an offence is dealt with by way of a Speed Awareness Course, Endorsable Fixed Penalty Notice or Process.

 

[dannygp]

I regularly go past cameras at 35? Must be my speedo out.

You could try pleading and getting it cancelled? Specially as seen as you only have 6 points in your first 1 or 2 years?