6 Points, No insurance!

andy2k · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:28

Driving a friends car last night, assumed i was covered on my policy with DOC but i misread it. Now i'm being done for invalid insurance. He wanted to give me 6 points and a 200 quid fine on the spot last night, but as im 18 and within the first 2 years i now have to go to court!

Ok so the senario is, It was half 10 and we'd finished work, i was just dropping a friend of after work when i got pulled. She had been feeling very ill and tired and thats why I offered to take her home. It was in her car, and she's obviously insured.

Other things to consider, I've been driving 10 months with no points. I'm about to start full time work in a couple of weeks which i will need to travel to at 6am and 12 midnight everyday as its shift work, no public transport. I was driving sensibly when i got pulled.

Do you think when i get the court summons and go, i will get 6 points and a ban, or any chance of 5 points and a high fine. I know its my fault as i did not check the insurance so will take the punishment they give me. Just i've done a month of tests to get my new job, now i've been offered it, it would kill me to lose it.

Everything else was fine, i was polite and appoligies to the Officer.

Also, they told me friend, the owner of the car she will get 6 points for not checking my insurance and letting me commit the offence, is this correct?

[TW]Fox · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:32

You are pretty much stuffed. You drove a car with no insurance - it is YOUR responsbility to check you are insured. Assuming you had DOC was frankly quite silly, as anyone here will tell you few, if any, under 21's get DOC these days.

You'll have to take your points - if your license was important to you you should have been more careful.

On the plus side, if you lose your license under the New Drivers Act you can re-apply for a provisional and then a full test more or less right away.

Saytan · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:33

a mate of mine pleaded the "need to drive for my job" defense when about to get his licence revoked by totting up in his first two years

they banned him for a fortnight and levied a fat fine.

andy2k · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:34

Yea i admit it was my fault, and will obviosly pleed guilty.

Do you know of any cases of getting 5 points and a higher fine, just so i don't lose my license, my income, my job and a lot more?

JRS · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:35

[TW]Fox said:
You are pretty much stuffed

Quoted for truth, emphasis and anything else you care to mention. Wave goodbye to your license for now.

andy2k · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:35

Saytan said:
a mate of mine pleaded the "need to drive for my job" defense when about to get his licence revoked by totting up in his first two years

they banned him for a fortnight and levied a fat fine.

I would far rather have that, as i could maybe just get a lift for two weeks. Any other people been in a simular situation,

Thanks for your reply.

cheets64 · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:36

Ouch, I've never driven a car other than the one I am insured on, I dont think I can drive another till I am 25 on my policy.

Its just one of them moments where you think " argh why did I do it"

andy2k · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:36

cheets64 said:
Ouch, I've never driven a car other than the one I am insured on, I dont think I can drive another till I am 25 on my policy.

Its just one of them moments where you think " argh why did I do it"

I know, I could have taken her home in my car, but it was at home, Just waiting for the summons, told it should take 6 - 8 weeks? Is this right?

Phil W · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:38

[TW]Fox said:
On the plus side, if you lose your license under the New Drivers Act you can re-apply for a provisional and then a full test more or less right away.

Correct, which i think in both totally different avenue's is great for people such as the OP who made a genuine mistake, but had for youth's who do 110mph on an A or B road.

The owner of the vehicle won't get points.

P.S why would you want to drive someone elses car anyway? If you stuffed it imagine the cost, and the guilt! Remeber driving another vehicle is on a TPFT basis.

[TW]Fox · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:40

Am I the only one who thinks this whole 'I need my job' thing is a load of rubbish?

Before you jump on me, I'm talking generally in that people are often able to get a reduced 'sentance' becuase they need their license for work.

How is that fair? If two of us go out and commit exactly the same crime, why should one get a reduced sentance simply becuase he needs a car to get to work?

andy2k · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:41

Phil W said:
Correct, which i think in both totally different avenue's is great for people such as the OP who made a genuine mistake, but had for youth's who do 110mph on an A or B road.

The owner of the vehicle won't get points.

P.S why would you want to drive someone elses car anyway? If you stuffed it imagine the cost, and the guilt! Remeber driving another vehicle is on a TPFT basis.

Thanks for the reply. It's not worth that much, and i drove vary carefully just down a country road to take her home. It was actually a mistake and now i'm having to go to court, and maybe lose my first full time job. It's killing me really.

Saytan · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:42

[TW]Fox said:
Am I the only one who thinks this whole 'I need my job' thing is a load of rubbish?

Before you jump on me, I'm talking generally in that people are often able to get a reduced 'sentance' becuase they need their license for work.

How is that fair? If two of us go out and commit exactly the same crime, why should one get a reduced sentance simply becuase he needs a car to get to work?

it tends to be sentence adjustment. my mate paid a much bigger fine than he would have, and now has to tell the insurance that he's been banned. long term, it balances out

andy2k · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:42

[TW]Fox said:
Am I the only one who thinks this whole 'I need my job' thing is a load of rubbish?

Before you jump on me, I'm talking generally in that people are often able to get a reduced 'sentance' becuase they need their license for work.

How is that fair? If two of us go out and commit exactly the same crime, why should one get a reduced sentance simply becuase he needs a car to get to work?

I see where you coming from, I've commmited an offence, the first time i've ever been pulled, but now i may lose my whole income. Do i really deserve that?

[TW]Fox · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:43

andy2k said:
i drove vary carefully

That'll be why you get pulled over. People driving exceptionally carefully in the middle of the night are invariably people who have had a little too much to drink - and hence, attract police attention.

andy2k · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:44

The offecier said, my clean record, and the fact i have my own insurance policy and car, should help me. And i don't mind paying. But christ, If i lost my job, then i'd be stuffed.

[TW]Fox · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:44

andy2k said:
I see where you coming from, I've commmited an offence, the first time i've ever been pulled, but now i may lose my whole income. Do i really deserve that?

You only lose your income becuase it was your choice to take a job which required a car for commuting - I require a car for commuting as well at the moment, and infact am contractually obliged to hold a license so I would be in the same situation as yourself, but I still think it would be unfair if my personal circumstances, entirely chosen by myself (well by the Uni but thats moot) were to result in me keeping my license when anyone else would have lost theirs.

Phil W · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:45

andy2k said:
Thanks for the reply. It's not worth that much, and i drove vary carefully just down a country road to take her home. It was actually a mistake and now i'm having to go to court, and maybe lose my first full time job. It's killing me really.

Can you get your boss to write a statement saying you need the vehicle for work?

How far away is work to commute to?

Slightly OT, my brother is facing loosing his licence for "dangerous driving" (long story) and also points for driving with no insurance. Even with all the points they could stack up, (aside from the fines) he is within the 2 year probation, so as soon as they issue him with them, he re-takes his test, points are wpied and he is on a clean slate. The law really is a strange thing.

andy2k · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:46

[TW]Fox said:
That'll be why you get pulled over. People driving exceptionally carefully in the middle of the night are invariably people who have had a little too much to drink - and hence, attract police attention.

Maybe, its also just been re-registered, and the old owner lived 50 miles away, so it was flagged when he ran checks. He then said my pupils looked like i had taken drugs, I mean he just got me leaving work :rolleyes:

[TW]Fox · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:46

Phil W said:
Slightly OT, my brother is facing loosing his licence for "dangerous driving" (long story) and also points for driving with no insurance. Even with all the points they could stack up, (aside from the fines) he is within the 2 year probation, so as soon as they issue him with them, he re-takes his test, points are wpied and he is on a clean slate. The law really is a strange thing.

He won't get the points wiped and he won't have a clean slate - the points stay there.

Phil W · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:47

[TW]Fox said:
He won't get the points wiped and he won't have a clean slate - the points stay there.

Hmm, will ask his Solicitor about this as he's the one who told him that!

/edit, could possibly be a good thing, keep him on a small engined run around!