6 Points, No insurance!

Rich_L · 3 Sep 2006 at 19:44

The courts can be quite funny somtimes, I got a £100 fine with £50 costs plus 5 points (helpfully as it was within 2 years so kept my licence!) for doing 97 on a dual carriageway but as I was a student I put my income down as nil...and they made me pay the fine in £5 weekly installments

With respect to the OP, that's pretty unlucky getting busted when just trying to help someone out, if it were me I'd describe how it happened and throw in the 'need the car for work' excuse and throw in that you help your dad out as well, isn't going to do any harm! Then hope they take pity on you and are lenient and give you 5 points (as in...we could have banned you but you're lucky..this time..) and a hefty fine but I don't really know how the courts view driving without insurance, even given the circumstances described. Good luck anyway!

andy2k · 3 Sep 2006 at 19:49

mr tommo said:
Jesus christ, it's hardly the biggest crime in the world is it? Hell, i'm glad the guy drove instead of an ill girl.... who's the most dangerous? It's not like he goes out regulary jacking cars and driving them uninsured.

You telling me, that in the same situation where you could quite possibly get away with a lighter sentence you wouldn't do it? You'd just sit there thinking, 'wow guyz, i'm a tough man so I'm just going to take this on the chin'? Because if you do, I think you need a reality check. FFS, the guy could quite possibly lose his job over this - he has every right to try for an alternative sentence. Get off your high horse Fox, I can't wait for the day something happens to you that causes you to come crashing down.

Thanks for this, Your right and this view makes me feel better., I didn't ask for all this. I know i have commited an offence, and will be punished, just want my job and licence left.

andy2k · 3 Sep 2006 at 19:50

Rich_L said:
The courts can be quite funny somtimes, I got a £100 fine with £50 costs plus 5 points (helpfully as it was within 2 years so kept my licence!) for doing 97 on a dual carriageway but as I was a student I put my income down as nil...and they made me pay the fine in £5 weekly installments

With respect to the OP, that's pretty unlucky getting busted when just trying to help someone out, if it were me I'd describe how it happened and throw in the 'need the car for work' excuse and throw in that you help your dad out as well, isn't going to do any harm! Then hope they take pity on you and are lenient and give you 5 points (as in...we could have banned you but you're lucky..this time..) and a hefty fine but I don't really know how the courts view driving without insurance, even given the circumstances described. Good luck anyway!

Cheers Mate, thanks for your reply.,

[TW]Fox · 3 Sep 2006 at 20:31

mr tommo said:
You telling me, that in the same situation where you could quite possibly get away with a lighter sentence you wouldn't do it?

Whats the point? It wont work. Dangerous tried it and his offence was arguably less serious than this guys - he even paid £2k for a top lawyer to help him and yup - it made no difference.

You'd just sit there thinking, 'wow guyz, i'm a tough man so I'm just going to take this on the chin'? Because if you do, I think you need a reality check. FFS, the guy could quite possibly lose his job over this - he has every right to try for an alternative sentence. Get off your high horse Fox, I can't wait for the day something happens to you that causes you to come crashing down.

What a lovely thing to say :rolleyes:

FYI, something already did happen - I got done for speeding on an empty dual carriageway in the middle of nowhere. I just took the points. I was speeding, after all, no matter how pathetic a fine and points for 80 on a dual carriageway is.

People always trying to get out of things they've done wrong annoy me, thats all. He drove without insurance, it was a shame yes and I sympathise with him just as I'm sure you sympathise with me for my speeding thing but come on, take the points and make a note not to do it again.

The_Dark_Side · 3 Sep 2006 at 23:43

[TW]Fox said:
Trying to find ways of getting out of the regular punishment sucks, IMHO.

i totally agree with the above sentiment...but with a reservation.
this case differs because they OP wasn't intentionally breaking the law.
ok he's been a bit daft for not knowing he wasn't allowed to drive other vehicles but that's not the same as someone bleating about speeding when they had a perfectly working speedometer in front of them 5 seconds before they were "done".

the OP is to blame and he's not disputing that...which makes a nice change for a member of the motors forum

[TW]Fox · 3 Sep 2006 at 23:57

The_Dark_Side said:
this case differs because they OP wasn't intentionally breaking the law.

So what? Most of us don't intentionally set out to, say, speed, it just happens, doesn't mean we've any more justification for getting off than someone who thinks 'Yea, I'll do 50 in this 40 I think'.

He only didn't intend to break the law becuase he was ignorant (correct word in this context, not intended to be insulting) of the extent of his insurance policy and as any lawyer will tell you, ignorance is no defence in law.

Frankly it was a rather daft assumption that he'd be covered on a car he didn't even own at his age anyway.

The_Dark_Side · 4 Sep 2006 at 00:15

[TW]Fox said:
So what? Most of us don't intentionally set out to, say, speed, it just happens, doesn't mean we've any more justification for getting off than someone who thinks 'Yea, I'll do 50 in this 40 I think'.

He only didn't intend to break the law becuase he was ignorant (correct word in this context, not intended to be insulting) of the extent of his insurance policy and as any lawyer will tell you, ignorance is no defence in law.

Frankly it was a rather daft assumption that he'd be covered on a car he didn't even own at his age anyway.

in both cases it's still the drivers fault.
but it's a thousand times more defendable for someone to have thought something to be true and end up getting stung over it, than for someone to either not take notice, or not care, about that large dial 18 inches in front of their face telling them they're breaking a law.

andy2k · 6 Sep 2006 at 16:05

I emailed a Solictior and they phoned me back just then.

Told me the minimum is 6 points and they cannot offer less than this, so i would get my license revokked. The alternative is to get a short disqulification of anything from a week to 56 days. Although this is normally given to repeat offenders, i could have one of these, which should work out better for me. So he would try and push this as it would be easier for me.

Company is BLB solicitors, fee is 200 pounds + VAT,

Either way i will not be driving after court for some time.

Just thought i'd let you know incase anyone is interested.

JRS · 6 Sep 2006 at 16:07

andy2k said:
Told me the minimum is 6 points and they cannot offer less than this, so i would get my license revokked. The alternative is to get a short disqulification of anything from a week to 56 days. Although this is normally given to repeat offenders, i could have one of these, which should work out better for me. So he would try and push this as it would be easier for me.

Probably the best you can hope for out of this situation mate. Hope you get that alternative.

andy2k · 6 Sep 2006 at 16:10

JRS said:
Probably the best you can hope for out of this situation mate. Hope you get that alternative.

Thats what i'm hoping for, He said its a possibility.

[TW]Fox · 6 Sep 2006 at 17:39

You CAN re-pass your test in LESS than 56 days if you do it right, and you won't have the stigma of a ban on your license which is a real turnoff for many insurance companies.

noob · 6 Sep 2006 at 17:41

[TW]Fox said:
You CAN re-pass your test in LESS than 56 days if you do it right, and you won't have the stigma of a ban on your license which is a real turnoff for many insurance companies.

Exactly instead of wasting money on solictors use it to pass your test. :confused:

Lan · 6 Sep 2006 at 17:59

this is a bit irrelevant but..

[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.

lol my mum got pulled once around 1-2am while dropping friends the police brethalised her (spellings) i think they were shocked at the fact tht she was under the limit, lol the police got owned

andy2k · 4 Nov 2006 at 04:35

The summons came on tuesday!

Dated the 27/10 i recived it 31/10 and im due in court on the 17/11. I went to see a solictor he said its not worth him going in as i'd make no difference and set me back 225 + vat, so advised me to go on my own.

My slot is at 10.45 so please wish me luck.

Do i need to take anything? How long do you get to pay any fines?

Cheers for your replys before everyone.

ste_bla · 4 Nov 2006 at 05:23

andy2k said:
The summons came on tuesday!

Dated the 27/10 i recived it 31/10 and im due in court on the 17/11. I went to see a solictor he said its not worth him going in as i'd make no difference and set me back 225 + vat, so advised me to go on my own.

My slot is at 10.45 so please wish me luck.

Do i need to take anything? How long do you get to pay any fines?

Cheers for your replys before everyone.

Should say what to take to the court on the summons.

Probably Drivers License

Payment at Milton Keynes Magistrate is meant to be 7 days for payment but that was 2 years ago.

Sagalout · 4 Nov 2006 at 07:57

Its 16 years since I had to go to court for a *ahem* fairly big speeding offence. 75 in a 30 on a bike (its a long story and not quite as child killing as it sounds).

Back in those days you had the option of paying there and then or in weekly installments. I got off with a £150 fine and just 3 points

rare · 4 Nov 2006 at 10:13

Best of luck to you.

I got stopped last night doing 108 MPH average speed on the A27. Not looking forward to it. I hope I wont be waiting around months for anything to happen. Never had anything like this before, clean license for 3 years.

Unfortunatly I need my license otherwise my job is down the pan.

Stinky · 4 Nov 2006 at 10:48

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 know my points where for speeding. but i also required my car for work, so i dressed smartlly and attended court pleading that i needed my car for work and i was given 5points and a £50 fine plus court fee's that was for doing 58 in a 30

learned from it though.

good luck. get over to peipoo.com (sp?) they will help you through it. you will prob have to wait for a few months yet anyway before you get the summons through the post.

Stinky · 4 Nov 2006 at 10:58

andy2k said:
I emailed a Solictior and they phoned me back just then.

Told me the minimum is 6 points and they cannot offer less than this, so i would get my license revokked. The alternative is to get a short disqulification of anything from a week to 56 days. Although this is normally given to repeat offenders, i could have one of these, which should work out better for me. So he would try and push this as it would be easier for me.

Company is BLB solicitors, fee is 200 pounds + VAT,

Either way i will not be driving after court for some time.

Just thought i'd let you know incase anyone is interested.

sorry didnt read this before i posted. this is aslo whta i was told about my offense. there is no harm in going to court and pleading you need the car. what is the worst that can happen??

just dont ask for a fine and ban rather than points. they wont do it. just say you understand as you are in the first 2 years tat you would lose your license if you recived 6points, and that you know that you have made the mistake and have learned that you must check your insurance in more detail in future.

it all depends on the majistrates and the end of the day

The_Dark_Side · 4 Nov 2006 at 11:14

rare said:
Unfortunatly I need my license otherwise my job is down the pan.

firstly, i'm honestly NOT having a pop at you AT ALL.
but i just can't understand people like you.
to risk a fine, points or even a ban because you enjoy driving fast is one thing...but to risk your livlihood?

i just don't get it.