Dad of the year

[Werewolf]

?

there is no continuity in the sentencing in england, and thats because its up to the magistrate. The biker in question obviously came across a magistrate who decided to make an example of him, and probably took offence to him having his kid on the back
.

Actually there is a lot of continuity in sentencing, once you have all the facts, and the guidebook that the magistrate has to go by.
It's got a huge list of offences, possible sentences and what to take into account - so for this sort of offence you start off with the basic charge - dangerous driving.
Then you take into account for example
Were others at risk? (Yes = more severe penalty)
How badly? (the higher the risk the more severe the penalty)
Was there any extenuating circumstances (yes = possible reduction in penalty).
Is there any history of similar offences? (if yes then the penalty is likely to be increased a lot depending on the actual history).
Was there a guilty plea? (the earlier the greater the reduction in final penalty)
Would a prision sentence be suitable? (IE do the 3 magistrates think that a fine/points/other sentance would be enough as a punishment/to deter it happeneing again)

The problem is that generally we as the public only get some very basic facts such as the offence, and sentence (and even those are often reported wrongly/in a very unclear manner by the news outlets)..


Personally from what I have seen/heard of the case he probably got the right sort of sentence, his driving was well below the standard reasonable expected in the circumstances (rain), he put the lives of other at risk (his son, a minor which probably makes it worse).
Given the fact he had his son on the back I suspect the magistrates came to the conclusion that if the risk to his son's life wasn't enough to discourage him, then a fine certainly wouldn't, and that maybe a prison sentence might do the job.

Given the shortage of prison spaces at the moment, and the pressure on magistrates to not use custodial sentences where other options are borderline suitable I'm guessing they took it very seriously.

 

[Lord-Jaffa]

Must not bite......stupid poeple.....

9/10 people on bikes I see daily are extremely dangerous, passing you so close they almost clip your car, at extreme speeds/acceleration or at traffic lights because they cant be arsed to wait 10 seconds. Ive had my paint scratched before as well from this.

So take your rolleyes and shove it, my opinion is perfectly valid, I loathe bikers and im just waiting for the day when one passes me dangerously for the 1000th time, clips my car and totals his bike.

 

[Rilot]

9/10 people on bikes I see daily are extremely dangerous, passing you so close they almost clip your car, at extreme speeds/acceleration or at traffic lights because they cant be arsed to wait 10 seconds. Ive had my paint scratched before as well from this.

So take your rolleyes and shove it, my opinion is perfectly valid, I loathe bikers and im just waiting for the day when one passes me dangerously for the 1000th time, clips my car and totals his bike.

Enjoy your opinion. 90% of bike riders are very safe. The antics you describe only look dangerous to you because you don't ride.

So, meet me when I'm in my car and I'm an OK guy, meet me when I'm on my bike and you hate me? Or is it the very fact that I ride a bike that makes you loathe me?

 

[Griffo]

9/10 people on bikes I see daily are extremely dangerous, passing you so close they almost clip your car, at extreme speeds/acceleration or at traffic lights because they cant be arsed to wait 10 seconds. Ive had my paint scratched before as well from this.

So take your rolleyes and shove it, my opinion is perfectly valid, I loathe bikers and im just waiting for the day when one passes me dangerously for the 1000th time, clips my car and totals his bike.

You do know that is completely ridiculous having that opinion of ALL bikers. I see idiots every day sitting in the outside lane, oblivious to what's going on. Should I hate all car drivers and wish them agony/death? Or should I hate ALL women drivers?

 

[The Edge]

I've just seen this on News 24. You can clearly see TIMEOUT in the video footage with the laser speed reading, which shows that particular clip is not accurate and should not have been used as evidence.

While he may well have been speeding one wonders why he was (presumably) advised to plead guilty if that was the only evidence.

 

[Fireskull]

You do know that is completely ridiculous having that opinion of ALL bikers. I see idiots every day sitting in the outside lane, oblivious to what's going on. Should I hate all car drivers and wish them agony/death? Or should I hate ALL women drivers?

The guy is an idiot with 1 track mind not even worth any bikers time good or bad.

 

[Fr0dders]

Actually there is a lot of continuity in sentencing, once you have all the facts, and the guidebook that the magistrate has to go by.

this is my problem. Not the magistrates, they do their best.

Its the book.

The peron in question was reported for the offence of dangerous driving. He did 122 in a 60 is guilty of putting somebody else in DANGER whilst exceeding the speed limit

The 6 months probably seems about right given the road, conditions and pillion as ive already said. My issue is that someone like 10 pence short get EXACTLY the same punishment, but he was involved in a horrific accident which left a biker permanently disabled

Potential vs real damage, but the same punishment ? doesnt make sense to me.

 

[Janesy B]

I've just seen this on News 24. You can clearly see TIMEOUT in the video footage with the laser speed reading, which shows that particular clip is not accurate and should not have been used as evidence.

While he may well have been speeding one wonders why he was (presumably) advised to plead guilty if that was the only evidence.

Yeah, it clearly shows "ERROR 3" then "TIMEOUT" and if I'm honest it doesn't even look like he's doing 100, let alone 120. I am going to back down after seeing the video. Points and a ban yes. A prison sentence, no way.

 

[Fr0dders]

Enjoy your opinion. 90% of bike riders are very safe. The antics you describe only look dangerous to you because you don't ride.

So, meet me when I'm in my car and I'm an OK guy, meet me when I'm on my bike and you hate me? Or is it the very fact that I ride a bike that makes you loathe me?

i disagree with your percentages.

The number of bikers who seem to treat the gap between the two lanes (on a single carrageway road) as their own personal 90mph lane is greater than those that dont.

However im willing to accept that these type of people are the weekend biker brigage, out to kill themselves.

The vast majority of daily bike users seem to be much more safe and value their lives. But in the summer the weekend warriors far outnumber the number of daily commuters.

Yeah, it clearly shows "ERROR 3" then "TIMEOUT" and if I'm honest it doesn't even look like he's doing 100, let alone 120. I am going to back down after seeing the video. Points and a ban yes. A prison sentence, no way.

agreed, now im at home and can see the video, it does seem strange if this was the only evidence. He doesnt look to be doing anything like 122mph when you look at his speed relative to other traffic in this video.

I hope this isnt the only evience.

 

[Janesy B]

If it was the only evidence I would have pleaded not guilty. Relative to the traffic, there's no way in hell he was doing 122MPH. What's caught the bloke out is the fact he probably didn't know what his speed was so couldn't argue the case.

 

[doofer]

I just saw this Video on the BBC, and I just can't see how that bike was doing 122MPH from the footage there, it looks nowhere near that sort of speed to me

 

[Flukester]

9/10 people on bikes I see daily are extremely dangerous, passing you so close they almost clip your car, at extreme speeds/acceleration or at traffic lights because they cant be arsed to wait 10 seconds. Ive had my paint scratched before as well from this.

So take your rolleyes and shove it, my opinion is perfectly valid, I loathe bikers and im just waiting for the day when one passes me dangerously for the 1000th time, clips my car and totals his bike.

9/10 bikers you see are dangerous ?, you are lying.

and the 'cant be arsed to wait 10secs', this simply smacks of your frustration at them NOT being stuck in the traffic queue... you see, bikes dont have to queue, if you like the idea buy a bike, if not, just sit in your car and get frustrated.. don't vent your anger at this in some anti biker crusade on interweb

I've NEVER clipped a car and filter miles every day and have done for over 20 years, god forbid the day I clip a car and write off my bike , it's just pure fantasy


There are loons on bikes, there are loons in cars... both are as bad as each other. It's just life though...

 

[Darryn]

Having been pillion on a high-powered bike at over 120mph, i wasnt even slightly scared... I feel that the punishment is too harsh, as many others have said, people have recently been getting lighter sentences for considerably more serious crimes.

 

[djbenjo]

9/10 bikers you see are dangerous ?, you are lying.

and the 'cant be arsed to wait 10secs', this simply smacks of your frustration at them NOT being stuck in the traffic queue... you see, bikes dont have to queue, if you like the idea buy a bike, if not, just sit in your car and get frustrated.. don't vent your anger at this in some anti biker crusade on interweb

I've NEVER clipped a car and filter miles every day and have done for over 20 years, god forbid the day I clip a car and write off my bike , it's just pure fantasy


There are loons on bikes, there are loons in cars... both are as bad as each other. It's just life though...

Well put Sums up my views quite well there.

 

[Spie]

Having his son on the back at that speed without adequate protective clothing was reckless. A fair punishment would have been a heavy fine and 6 points.

A 6 month prison sentence is completely over-the-top and will cause problems which are likely to be far more serious than speeding.

Guy will probably lose his job. Won't be able to pay maintenance. Child doesn't see father for 6 months (unless visiting in prison). Child get's ridiculed at school etc etc.

A very bad decision made purely to make someone feel powerful.

 

[Fido McNasty]

I liken barristers. magistrates and judges to be `extreme politicians'. We all know with increasing alarm what it takes to be a politician.

This guy was out of order and so help me I agree with what Spie just wrote.

 

[dirtydog]

Actually there is a lot of continuity in sentencing, once you have all the facts, and the guidebook that the magistrate has to go by.
It's got a huge list of offences, possible sentences and what to take into account - so for this sort of offence you start off with the basic charge - dangerous driving.

When I was convicted of a drink driving related offence recently, the magistrates did not follow the stated guidelines which state a starting point of 12 weeks' jail. I didn't even get a community order. While I'm not complaining for my own sake, it proves there isn't a lot of consistency (I assume that's what you both meant)

Arguably what this biker did was no worse than what I did either.

 

[The Edge]

Guy's I totally agree that 122mph with a passenger is reckless, dangerous and worthy of a prison sentance in those conditions. But the video shown on TV is clearly inaccurate as shown by error 03 and timeout in the telemetry display.

If this was the only evidence it shouldn't even have made it to court.

 

[rsatd]

Of course it is.

Yes it is, all you do is simply adjust your riding to take into account that 90% of drivers(hurrah for random stats ) loose their ability to drive or any common sense they may have had. I am not defending the guy here, I am simply saying that wet on its own doesn't cause motorbikes to just topple over. Riding incorrectly for the condition does.

Also

I know this to be true due to amount of people in jams that open there doors on purpose to stop me in summer or just pull over to white line, happened twice last year

 

[Wicksta]

Having his son on the back at that speed without adequate protective clothing was reckless. A fair punishment would have been a heavy fine and 6 points.

A 6 month prison sentence is completely over-the-top and will cause problems which are likely to be far more serious than speeding.

Guy will probably lose his job. Won't be able to pay maintenance. Child doesn't see father for 6 months (unless visiting in prison). Child get's ridiculed at school etc etc.

A very bad decision made purely to make someone feel powerful.

This is exactly how I feel. We don't have enough prison space as it is, why is a guy being locked up for something like this. Yes it was extremely reckless/stupid but it doesn't deserve a family being split up and lives/careers if not ruined then screwed up a great deal.