Do I Have To Go To Court For Speeding?
At Forrest Williams we get a lot of calls from drivers charged with speeding who want to fight the offence. In some cases this is because they dispute the speed itself, others just because they don’t want to accept the penalty. We take the time to talk with you first, before we give you our advice. Speeding is not a ‘one size fits all’ offence, there are levels of offence seriousness and the penalties increase accordingly. Below is a summary of the guidelines used by the courts when passing sentence:
|
Speed Limit |
Recorded speed (mph) |
|||
|
20 |
21-30 |
31-40 |
41-50 |
51+ |
|
30 |
31-40 |
41-50 |
51-60 |
61+ |
|
40 |
41-55 |
56-65 |
66-75 |
76+ |
|
50 |
51-65 |
66-75 |
76-85 |
86+ |
|
60 |
61-80 |
81-90 |
91-100 |
100+ |
|
70 |
71-90 |
91-100 |
101-110 |
111+ |
|
Penalties |
£100 fine 3 Points |
Income related fine 4-6 Points or Disqualification 7-28 days |
Income related fine Disqualification 7-56 days or 6 Points |
Outside the courts guidelines – disqualification of their own discretion. |
At Forrest Williams we promise to be honest with you about the benefits of fighting against the charge. We will ask you some simple questions about your driving history, and about the offence itself. If you are in the first bracket of offence seriousness and accept that you were speeding then our advice to you may well be that you consider accepting the offence – especially if you have not completed a Speed Awareness Course within the past 3 years as you may be offered it this time. Be aware that even a minor speeding offence can put you at risk of a six month ban if it causes you to reach or exceed 12 points. If the offence is more serious and you have a preference as to the sentence passed then expert representation may be of benefit to you.
At Forrest Williams we have extensive experience of helping clients with speeding matters, helping the courts see the offender and not just the offence, to ensure that the sentence takes their circumstances into account.
Andrew contacted us when he received the summons for his speeding matter. He had been stopped by the police some months earlier, allegedly doing 97/60mph limit. He believed the paperwork had come through ‘Out of time’ because of the time since he was stopped and wanted the matter dropped. We explained that because he was stopped the ’14 day rule’ he was referring to did not apply. Being stopped counts as his verbal notice of intended prosecution. We talked him through the process and supported him in preparing his own mitigation for court.
Sam went to Court for speeding – 66/40. He accepted it and knew he had done it, he was rushing to get home as he needed to relieve his grandmother’s carer. We helped prepare his case to show the courts his good character, to show that he needed his licence and the impact a disqualification would have, not only on him but on those around him. The courts were persuaded that a disqualification was not appropriate and points were imposed. A very happy client!
As I said above, speeding is not a ‘one size fits all’ offence, there are levels of offence seriousness and the penalties increase accordingly. At Forrest Williams we know this, just as we know that no two clients are the same, so our service to you is bespoke and tailored to you – that’s why we take the time to talk with you before we advise you on the best way forward and whether you need to go to Court for speeding.
If you are charged with a speeding matter, or require legal advice on any motoring or criminal matter, then give the Forrest Williams team a call on 01623 397200.
