15 comments Add a comment
I'd like to tell you about a speeding fine I have just received... by text message! Let me first fill you in on the background, just to be clear, my gripe is with the system as a whole not the fact that I got a speeding fine.
I have been driving for over six years and up until six months ago had a squeaky clean license. On my way to work there is a small uphill stretch where the road turns from single lane to two lanes. This road is one way only and on either side there are empty fields.
Anyway, I received a letter through the post telling me I had been caught speeding up this particular stretch. I was shocked to find that this road, which could be mistaken for a dual carriageway, was actually a 30mph zone and despite the fact I had not spotted the mobile speed trap, I admitted liability paid the £80 fine. My license was "returned and duly endorsed".
I had been caught speeding again on the same stretch of road
Some time passed and in July 2007 another letter pops through the door. I had been caught speeding again on the same stretch of road. I couldn't believe it this had happened again and more importantly I still hadn't seen a speed trap anywhere.
The letter did not contain any evidence of the offence and to be quite honest used some rather nasty scare tactics to put the recipient off challenging it. Again I signed the form and admitted liability - what else could I do?
Three months passed and I heard nothing. Then, out of the blue this pack arrives through the door summoning me to court. I sign the section indicating that I wished to plead guilty and sent it back with the next post.
It is now only a couple of weeks until Christmas and I'm sitting at work when suddenly my phone beeps to let me know I have received a text message. The message reads "HMCSyou were recently fined £258 please phone...." Naturally, I rang the number provided and pointed out that I hadn't received anything in the post recently.
"It's not our responsibility, Royal Mail must have lost it" was the response I eventually got fobbed off with. I asked why they don't send important documents like these by recorded delivery.
Apparently it'd be too expensive. Ludicrous Im sure youll agree considering the harshness of my penalty, which included a £15 victim fee (don't even ask.).
In summary, I had to bend over and swallow a £258 fine, very close to Christmas for a six month old offence that I'm not even sure I committed?! All this happened on a road that has a completely inappropriate speed limit in the first place.
By: Olly
Leave a comment
Well 2 weeks later I found that I had lost 6 demerit points off my licence. NOTE: The Bill of Rights 1688, which is Constitutional Law in Australia, says "That grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of a particular person before conviction are illegal and void" ie: unless you have been judged by a jury and found guilty there is no conviction and the forfeiture is illegal.
Therefore how can the RTA get away with this illegal unreasonable practice. Answers Please.
Never ever fill out the mobile telephone number field on an application form for anything. Your mobile telephone number should be considered ex-directory to the government or institutions managing matters like speeding fines.
If it was one of my cases, that's what will have happened.
"The harder you make life for these b@$t@rd$ the less they will bother you." - Wrong. the more determined it makes me to stick you on for anything I can, now or in the future!
You cannot get free lagal aid for everything now. Minor motoring offences have been withdrwawn from the scheme.
I was not able to afford a Solicitor because I have been off work for some time due to Ill health, so was forced to defend myself, and what a one sided farce that turned out to be.
Even though I am a qualified engineer, and also have a City and Guilds qualification in Computer Technology, the Magistrates ruled that I was NOT permitted to question any evidence on "technical grounds" because I was not suitably qualified. I objected that the principles I wanted to question were in any schoolboys O Level GCSE Geometry exam, I was still not allowed to question the evidence on echnical grounds.
I expressed my objections that I had not been allowed to present my case in a fair and balanced way, and was merely told that I could appeal if I wished (Yet more money to shell out) so I have been stuck with 6 points on my otherwise clean licence, for an offence I did not commit.
I can Honestly say that I was not speeding, because I had already checked my speed because my Speed camera alert device had warned me before I was in sight of the Mobile Scamera van ( or Talivan if you prefer?) The Scamera van was parked on a straight section of dual carriage way which was preceeded by a bend, and my speed camera alert device had warned me before I had rounded the bend.
To say that I am peved is an understatement.
Best course of action:
- When you recieve letter through the post do not reply, wait for the second letter; my mate has gotten away with ignoring his and they did not even send a second letter. If a certain amount of time goes by you will be beyond prosecution, I forget how long but Im sure its on http://pepipoo.com.
- If they send a second reply asking for evidence and to see the photos.
- If they refuse or provide the photos follow the steps on the http://pepipoo.com with the NIP Wizard etc.
Good Luck!
VMturbo