[Closed] Pulled for speeding, but I wasn't speeding. What can I do?

Most of us have been nicked for speeding

No. Most of us have upto prescription glasses or eye test. Unless of course the coppers under your nose 8)

Nope, driving for 26 years (where did that go ????) and not had a point

[i]driving for 26 years[/i]

[jasper carrot]

and not fallen asleep at the wheel yet?

[/jasper carrot]

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Has car safety not improved over the years? So why have the speed limits not increased also?

In 1966, 7985 people were killed on our roads. In 2013 it was 1793.

Why do you want to go backwards?

why have we not decreased the speed limits to allow for busier roads?

Also, has nobody thought of the utter futility of arguing with a black cab driver? He's right. And that's it.
Now let me tell you about the time I had Rooney in he cab no tip or ought the tight bugger.....
And in slightly more serious response to the op, you are bloody kidding right? What difference does it make to whether it was 31 or 35 you were caught at. On another day, maybe you wouldn't have been done for 45, however, you were so suck it up. If you were adamant you were not speeding I may have a bit of sympathy, but to argue that you were not as far over as you caught at seems a little stupid.

To get more flow of traffic through the same stretch of road actually needs everyone to speed up. If you close 2 lanes on a motorway, the only way to get all the vehicles through without causing a hold up is to triple the speed in the remaining lane so triple the cars can travel on the stretch of carriageway in the same time frame. So, increase the limit to 210mph

and not fallen asleep at the wheel yet?

Maybe the next STW poll should be have you ever been nicked for speeding?
I have 13 other people with me now and 9 of them have at some time been caught. Not a scientific data set but I reckon that equals a majority or most of us.

n 1966, 7985 people were killed on our roads. In 2013 it was 1793.

Better medical/trauma care would play a huge part.

People love to say 'cars have airbags etc'. I'd also say the emergency services and immediate care in hospital play a big part too.

If your caught speeding once- it says to me SLOW DOWN. You dont have the awareness skills to travel at faster speeds obviously.

Surprised by how many people think it's ok/morally justified/amusing/safe to 'annoy' other drivers by deliberately driving below the speed limit.

Unless there are adverse weather conditions or hazards there is no reason to drive 5 or 10 mph under the limit. The limits have been set by the authorities to be a safe driving speed, not some arbitrary figure you just come up with.

People seem to think there are just 2 camps, those who speed with no regard for anyone else, and those who drive safely by going slower than they need to. There are those of us who observe speed limits and want to maintain some flow to traffic and progress safely

Going out of your way to annoy other road users is just odd. Maybe you get bossed around at home or work and need to exert some power another way, whatever it is, it's hardly safe driving

[i]The limits have been set by the authorities to be a safe driving speed,[/i]

Nope.

The National Speed Limit is not intended to be a target, rural roads should be driven according to the road width, distance you can see to be clear etc not 60mph 'cos that's the limit mate'.

deliberately driving below the speed limit.

It's a limit, not a requirement

[b]The limits[/b] have been set by the authorities to be a safe driving speed

Surprised by how many people think it's ok/morally justified/amusing/safe to 'annoy' other drivers by deliberately driving below the speed limit.

You sound like one of those people who tailgates people driving marginally below the limit, as punishment for making you 1.5 seconds late.

For me- if you dont see a speed camera and your caught, you obviously wouldn't notice anything thats not painted bright yellow or very large signs warning. You can't process such obviuos things at a higher speed then it should be a wake up call.

Regardless of how fancy your company car is- you aren't as talented as you think. Drive to the conditions AND your personal ability.

What did Jackie Stewart once say? Two things you can't question about a man; his love making and driving skills?

I would say your crumple zone and the enforce wearing of seat belts had a lot to do with it.

I used to spend a lot of time at a breakers yard that dealt exclusively with insurance company's and write offs.

You would see cars that you knew there was no way someone was surviving that but also there would be older cars that were written off with relatively minor damage but there would always be few with spiders web smash in the screen with hair and flesh embedded even on some with what looked like minor front damage, the sort you would expect to drive around and see two people exchanging details.

I have a freind with a curved spine and no front teeth from exiting his car through the windscreen.
Cars have got a lot safer, which is a good thing, not an excuse to make driving more dangerous again by increasing speed limits.

You sound like one of those people who tailgates people driving marginally below the limit, as punishment for making you 1.5 seconds late.

I don't tailgate

I don't like people driving slower than is necessary without reason

Like I said in my original post, people seem to think there are two camps, crazed speeding lunatics, or people who drive at 25mph

I do get annoyed at people driving slower than is necessary without reason

I didn't know you were Professor Charles Xavier and you could read other motorist's minds and know why they were driving at a particular speed?

I was referring to people who do it to 'annoy' other drivers as I said in my original post

If someones driving slow- overtake them. Or is that a dirty word?

Slower than you find necessary.

Maybe they are not as confident as you are and feel they are driving at a speed they feel comfortable at given conditions.

I was referring to people who do it to 'annoy' other drivers

[i]Or is that a dirty word? [/i]

on the sort of roads where there are lower speed limits 20/30/40 passing safely whilst sticking to the limit is often difficult if not impossible. So don't.

Make no mistake, knob head copper took exception with the speed you pulled away from the lights, she just can't ticket you for it so she pulled you for doing 33 in a 30 because that's all she had on you. Coppers drive over the limit all the time, ticketing for 3 miles over the limit stretches the meaning of the word discretionary. Maybe she was on her period.

I think we all understand this but being plod is like being in any position of power, you just want a bit of respect. Beating them from the lights albeit 'just over the limit' is just asking for trouble and that's what he got. As my old man always said to me, " you don't have to like them but you can never beat them".

tinybits - Member

To get more flow of traffic through the same stretch of road actually needs everyone to speed up.

Actually not. You need to increase the average speed but that can be achieved with better flow management. Sometimes reducing the speed limit gets the traffic flowing and moving better. (I know very little about this- just enough to know it's interesting and a bit counterintuitive)

enfht - Member

... ticketing for 3 miles over the limit stretches the meaning of the word [u][b]discretionary[/b][/u]...

That's the word I am looking for ... discretionary. They could simply stop the driver to remain him of the speed limits and anything more than that is not only harsh but goes against common sense. Very petty especially on an empty road.

hora - Member

If someones driving slow- overtake them. Or is that a dirty word?

It's a dirty word according to my friend ... not sure why ... 🙄

best way to increase flow through a stretch of road is to restrict it to car use and make it peds and cycles only...you'll get far more people through it then.

The cops are testing two things when they follow you like that.

1: Your speed
2: Your observation skills

Looks like the OP failed both tests

I even seem to let more people out of side streets when this happens.

I saw someone get rear-ended doing this. Worse than excessive speed to be honest.

Maybe the next STW poll should be have you ever been nicked for speeding?
I have 13 other people with me now and 9 of them have at some time been caught. Not a scientific data set but I reckon that equals a majority or most of us.

Like I said in my original post, people seem to think there are two camps, crazed speeding lunatics, or people who drive at 25mph

5mph below the limit? Could you tell us what other trivialities annoy you? It must be a very long list, so take your time.

I even seem to let more people out of side streets when this happens.

hora - Member

I even seem to let more people out of side streets when this happens.

I saw someone get rear-ended doing this. Worse than excessive speed to be honest.

People following too close?

They could simply stop the driver to remain him of the speed limits and anything more than that is not only harsh but goes against common sense. Very petty especially on an empty road.

I'm guessing they probably did pull him over for a chat then he got arsey with them in the back of the car.

I think your biggest mistake was being a "professional" driver and daring to drive under 50! Coppers (without blues on), buses and especially cabbies round here know the law - NEVER drive anywhere under 50mph.

People following too close?

Driving slowly in traffic - its fine to let someone filter in if everyone is crawling. I've had- someone almost slam on from 40 in a 40 to let a family cross - I didn't get close to his rear but it meant me also having to apply equal amounts of brake.

There are no give way lines in the road. I'll never flash someone out- can you see all hazzards?

You may think its being courteous but its not legal or safe to let someone out when you have cars following behind you.

If someone wishes to pull out and I can stop and let them in good time, I check my mirror.
If there is traffic behind me I stop and let them out, if there is no traffic behind, I carry on as I figure there is no point stopping slightly inconveniencing my self if the road is clear for them to pull out the moment I pass anyway.

If someone rear ends me they obviously were ever too close or not looking where they are going.

hora - Member

You may think its being courteous but its not legal or safe to let someone out when you have cars following behind you.

Really?

Its not legal though- so why would you do it?

[quote=chip ]If someone rear ends me they obviously were ever too close or not looking where they are going.

This. hora does appear to be articulating the common fallacy that it's the fault of the person in front that the one behind didn't leave sufficient stopping distance or wasn't paying proper attention.

[quote=hora]Its not legal though

Link to the law please, or even just the HC rule?

Police cars and fit women get top priority, and I have never been stopped by either, just a "thank you" wave as they pull away.

I always thought that a speed limit was the MAXIMUM that you should drive a motorised vehicle on a section of road?

Must be just me then.

Its not legal though- so why would you do it?

It's like murder and drug dealing; it's the scourge of the modern day.

I think there is a Crimewatch special on it coming up. Lots of people in traffic thinking they are being pleasant and letting people out; but they are contributing to anarchy on the roads.

I'll have a dig around. On another level- if you have cars behind you travelling behind you (not crawling in a jam)- do you think its ok to hold everyone up to let a random act to a stranger out?

I think there is a Crimewatch special on it coming up. Lots of people in traffic thinking they are being pleasant and letting people out; but they are contributing to anarchy on the roads

Thats ok, a fair few STW'ers seem to think taking illegal drugs is normal yet bike theft is criminal.

Is gently slowing to a crawl to allow some one to pull out holding you up, really .

If every one thought like you you would be held up as at most junctions at certain times of the day you would not get a look in.

And there would have to be traffic lights installed to compensate for the lack of good will.

hora - Member

I'll have a dig around. On another level- if you have cars behind you travelling behind you (not crawling in a jam)- do you think its ok to hold everyone up to let a random act to a stranger out?

Yep. Don't usually have to slow right down or stop and there's always a queue round the corner. I'm never in that much of a rush.

Thats ok, a fair few STW'ers seem to think taking illegal drugs is normal yet bike theft is criminal.

[quote=hora ]I'll have a dig around.

So you don't actually know that it's illegal? 🙄

Not read all the posts but you have admitted to speeding here -

My speedo needle was below the 35mph mark

Unlucky.

I had some one in front of me do the drive slowly flash everyone out routine as a punishment for me sounding my horn when he forced his way into a non gap in front of me. Quite frankly I could have cared less about another car in the cue in front of me , what pissed me off was that he nearly hit a cyclist that he never saw when he focussed on the gap . His seconded flashing out resulted in someone else shooting in front of the same cyclist in a bus lane forcing her to break all on in front of a bus.
My last off was when a car was flashed out and drove into me at speed at 90 degrees.
I am all in favour of slowing down to force tailgaters and speeders to become aware of traffic and control their actions and also in favour of courtesy to cars in side streets but be very aware of other traffic both behind and to your nearside if you are going to play games on the highway.

crankboy - Member
Quite frankly I could have cared less about another car in the cue in front of me

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I could not have cared less or couldn't have cared less, please.

We are not Americans (unless you are of course american, in which case as you were).

I checked my last car (Astra) to see how accurate the speedo was - at a steady 50mph on the GPS it was indicating 51mph on the speedo. I think speedos are a lot more accurate these days so going at 35mph thinking your actually doing 31.7 so you won't get a ticket may well be the wrong move.

As the OP has now demonstrated. 🙂

After watching videos of what happens to humans when they get hit at 35mph versus 30mph and the massively increased chances of killing someone at the higher speed because of those differences you ain't ever going to see me go above 30mph. I do seem to attract long lines of Audi drivers driving 5cm off my bumper for making that decision though. I love watching their increasing levels of rage as I dare to keep within the law.....

Northwind - Member
tinybits - Member
To get more flow of traffic through the same stretch of road actually needs everyone to speed up.

Actually not. You need to increase the average speed but that can be achieved with better flow management. Sometimes reducing the speed limit gets the traffic flowing and moving better. (I know very little about this- just enough to know it's interesting and a bit counterintuitive)

You know I was taking the piss right? The setting of the speed limit to 210mph should have given it away!

Apparently I can't read 😳

I do love a good "I can justify speeding" rant on the internet.

The limit is the limit, you can't justify going over it... I don't even know how manufacturers can sell a car/bike that's not limited to 70!

I don't even know how manufacturers can sell a car/bike that's not limited to 70!

Come on, I'm sure you can do better than that! 1/10

[img] [/img]

If someones driving slow- overtake them. Or is that a dirty word?

It's called "making progress". 😆

Tbh we should stick to the limits. How are we to know better? Do we have special training to know the limit on any given road is wrong?

I still remember cresting the hill towards the speed camera van on Snake Pass and the berk in the powerful Merc estate behind me belting past me at a crazy speed. He hit the brake lights just infront of the van. I wonder how long is ban was. Most people can't cope with speed- it takes up all their focus and they lose sight of hazards/potential and developing IMO.

I was the same*- no one is born to speed and survive. Stay in the limits. Leave speeding to 17yr olds, men who work at McDonalds and the Police.

*A few years ago I read a forum topic by a bloke who did time inside after he went out for a morning drive and it ended up with a motorcyclist in a serious accident. His prison diary and experience leading upto that lead me to slow right down. I can't remember a car I'd had before that that I hadn't had sideways. A fact I'm not proud of. I even shared the topic with a couple of friends who I thought would benefit from reading it.

I do love a good "I can justify speeding" rant on the internet.

I love a good "I haven't actually read any of the thread but I'm going to be judgemental anyway" rant on the Internet.

The OP has been charged with driving at 35mph. He asserts that his speedometer was reading under this value. Assuming that the OP isn't mistaken and that he doesn't have an illegal speedo, the the charge is false. This is the crux of the OP.

Without knowing the accuracy of his speedo (and his eyes / brain), whether he was actually still breaking the limit or not is pure speculation.

No luck then?

I N R A T S but was a definitive answer found on whether the Rozzers' evidence would be sufficient to get the OP?

Was the OP looking at the road or the speedo?

Sounds like a pretty fair cop to me (or was she a redhead?)

ton - Member

yes
they need evidence. their word is not good enough.

Total bollocks.
Generally, two pieces of evidence are needed to prosecute for speeding (though I believe one officer's opinion is sufficient on motorways), such as a laser gun, following at a constant distance with a calibrated speedo or simply the opinion of an officer.

In the OP's case the two officers can provide the evidence needed to prosecute without any other corroboration. They could have been on foot and their testimony would still hold as much weight.

pk13 - Member

My sister has 3 points for 32

Pics of the ticket or it didn't happen. Your sister has fed you porkies.

nealglover - Member

What "knowledge" is that ?

You can get a speeding ticket for 33 in a 30. It's over the limit.
What makes you think you can't ?

You are correct that speeding is an absolute offence so 31 in a 30 could technically get you done, but you are neglecting the reality that no one has ever been done for 31 in a 30. Or 32. Possibly not 33 either, though I think I have seen tickets at 34.

andyfla - Member

I am one of those annoying people who love driving at just under the limit to annoy people

I'm assuming you're just illustrating a point, and that you wouldn't really deliberately try and antagonise people who are partaking in a potentially dangerous activity, as that would mark you out as a monumental bell end, which I'm sure you're not.

mattsccm - Member

It is obvious that you were speeding as you have said so. You do not know how fast you were doing. You think you know. You have said that.

So he doesn't know how fast he was driving but you know he was speeding? 😆
At 30mph, your speedo can legally read 39.25mph, so there is every chance the OP was not speeding.
This is unlikely, of course. I've had cars with undersize tyres that still didn't read that far out.

BoardinBob - Member

It's a limit, not a requirement

You'd fail your test with that attitude.

*sbob does not condone speeding, has a clean licence and has never broken a law in his life.
Especially motoring laws.

Hopefully that will stoke things up for a bit. 😀

So he doesn't know how fast he was driving but you know he was speeding?

If they'd wrote me a ticket saying 33 or 32 in a 30, well that seems pretty harsh but at least it was true.

Al,

The opinion of two* police officers, or one police officer and a calibrated speedometer (or other measurement device) is [b]sufficient[/b] evidence that the limit was exceeded. As you will recall from your legal training, sufficiency is not the same as quality. So this will meet the "case to answer" criteria but won't necessarily** prove beyond reasonable doubt. Police officers usually present as credible and reliable witnesses with their livelihood and liberty at stake for lying in court.

There is no requirement for the Police to provide any evidence or witness statements before the case calls in court and you officially lodge a not-guilty plea. English courts award costs (typically £600 ish even without an expert witness) to the CPS if you loose, so it is therefore a very big gamble.

(*one on a motorway)
(**although in the absence of defence evidence or an very good cross examination that introduces doubt it probably will)

*A few years ago I read a forum topic by a bloke who did time inside after he went out for a morning drive and it ended up with a motorcyclist in a serious accident. His prison diary and experience leading upto that lead me to slow right down. I can't remember a car I'd had before that that I hadn't had sideways. A fact I'm not proud of. I even shared the topic with a couple of friends who I thought would benefit from reading it.

10pence's account starts on page 3

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=210&t=442266&mid=0&i=40&nmt=Prison%3F&mid=0

You'd fail your test with that attitude.

Except I passed my test 1st time and in 20 years of driving I've amassed a grand total of 3 points, incurred 19 years ago.

10pence's account starts on page 3

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=210&t=442266&mid=0&i=40&nmt=Prison%3F&mid=0
/p>

Cheers. I'll re-read this. It always helps when you feel like 'pressing on'/seeing what your car can do/you feel good and you know your a good/swift-driver bollocks.

Track day it or **** off IMO.

When I was 16 I was riding my Mum's moped in a 30mph zone and was pulled in by a policeman who was standing in a bus stop pointing a 'hair dryer' at me.

The moped struggled to reach an indicated 30mph on that particular road, so although I'd spotted him from some distance away I continued to putt, putt my way towards him, happy in the knowledge that I was 'safe'.

The policeman's actions were extremely ambiguous, consisting of him vaguely waggling the radar gun rather than blocking the road and demanding me to 'halt', which I'd have expected had I been breaking the law. However, as I passed him, something about his demeanour made me suddenly decide to stop, so I pulled into the bus stop, dismounted, parked the scooter, and removed my crash helmet, expecting to be told it was all a mistake, but he said sternly, "Now then, Sir. Do you know you were speeding in a 30mph zone? You were doing 30.5mph! However, I'll let you off seeing as you stopped, which is more than can be said for that last ******!" Whereupon he leapt in his car and sped off down the road, blue lights flashing, no doubt in hot pursuit of some hapless motorist who had incorrectly interpreted the policeman's gestures as a friendly wave.

as that would mark you out as a monumental bell end

My experience of dealing with our esteemed police force is that, on the whole, they are usually reasonably decent human beings. But like any cross-section of society, you do get some who are just arseholes. Which isn't a great situation when they're in a position of power / authority.

MrNice - Member

"I don't even know how manufacturers can sell a car/bike that's not limited to 70!"

Come on, I'm sure you can do better than that! 1/10

Why is that a troll?

Cheers poly, that makes sense.

To those that have checked their speed against GPS etc, do you keep checking as your tyres wear down?
Genuine question as I assumed the error of the speedo crept in as you wore your tyres down, ie driveshaft still spinning at x revolutions but you are travelling further, hence faster, on a new set than on a set at the min legal limit? or am I talking bobbins and the impact is too small to notice? 🙂

BoardinBob - Member

It's a limit, not a requirement

"You'd fail your test with that attitude."

Really why?

IMO the reasons for the penalty are:

1. They did not apply discretion even when the road is empty.
2. You drove off too quickly from start stop hence they noticed you.
3. You are a black taxi cab driver ... they don't like taxi driver.
4. They are lesbians and they like to act tough.
5. You pissed them off because they are lesbians with above reasons.

They could easily give you a verbal warning but they want to act tough with power ... to dominate you.

Yes?

My advice is to get a proper dash cam if your livelihood depend on driving.

😯

Really why?

I got a minor on my test for doing 25 in a 30 - near a school, about 8.30, kids all over, cars parked on both sides of the road, lots of traffic - it was considered to be undue hesitation. I got another for waiting behind a cyclist rather than overtaking where I could only have left about 3 feet of space. The driving test's priorities are a bit messed up.

Really why?

Hesitancy, or failure to make progress.

For the purposes of a test you're expected to drive at or near the posted limit unless there's a good reason not to, mincing around at 20mph in a 30 zone would suggest a lack of confidence / experience and almost certainly earn you a failure. Unless that's changed since I learned to drive, anyway.