Fighting Speeding Tickets

If you have received a speeding ticket, what action can you take to avoid a fine, a penalty, or even losing your driving licence? This article looks at the action you can take to defend yourself or how to seek expert legal assistance.

What Points Will You Receive From A Speeding Ticket?

Speeding offences and speeding tickets usually lead to a three or six point endorsement on your driving licence, but in some circumstances they can actually lead to a ban (at the discretion of a magistrate).

The discretion available to the magistrates means just that, even if you have had a clean driving licence before the speeding event in question, they could in theory decide to ban you if they feel the circumstances justify that action. Aggravating circumstances can include the speed at which you were travelling or the type of area in which you were speeding (eg heavily residential).

What If You Already Have Points On Your Licence?

There is a much greater chance of you being banned if you already have points on your driving licence. If you already have nine points, three more points can lead to a totting up ban as you will exceed the 12 points limit at which you will be lose your driving licence.

Not The Driver?

If you were not the driver at the time that the speeding ticket was issued you must return the Section 172 notice with the details of the driver within 28 days.

Conditional Offer

If you receive a conditional offer from the police force of a fixed penalty notice and you do not want to accept it you will need to find out the appeal procedure for the police force in question and take the necessary action within the time limit. You should find out their procedure as soon as you receive the conditional offer.

Court Appearance

Once you know the police force's procedure, or if you receive a summons, you will need to confirm that you are contesting the summons and provide your statement in mitigation. Before doing this you should obtain legal advice to ensure you are not damaging your prospects of successfully defending the speeding ticket.

A legal adviser will explain your two options, accepting that you are guilty with a statement in mitigation, or not guilty of the speeding offence.

Evidence Of The Speeding Offence

You can request evidence of the speeding offence if you were not driving, believe that an error was made in identifying your speed, or believe that an error was made in identifying your vehicle.

The Hearing

At the hearing the prosecution must prove that you were the driver of the vehicle and that you were exceeding the speed limit.

The Magistrates can impose a fine of up to £1,000 (£2,500 if you were speeding on a motorway) as well as three to six penalty points on your driving licence. However, as already mentioned they can also disqualify you.

Take Expert Advice

Most people cannot afford to lose their driving licence both for employment and personal reasons. You should seek specialist legal advice to provide you with the best prospects of retaining your driving licence.

We Can Help You In Fighting Speeding Tickets?

Although we operate from offices near Gatwick in Surrey we regularly accept instructions across England and Wales and have barristers ready to represent you in all courts even at short notice. We can take full instructions on the telephone or in person.

Call us free on 0808 178 9002 or complete our Online Enquiry Form now for a
free no obligation opinion and discussion.

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