MK5 Golf GTI
General => Random Chat => Topic started by: kong86 on November 26, 2010, 12:14:30 pm
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Hi
Any chance any one has got a number for a good solicitor specialising in driving offences??
Could be looking at a ban, :sad1: :sad1:
any advice or numbers are appreciated
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Oh dear. All I can say is good luck.
I got pulled doing 94mph a couple of weeks ago. Luckily I got a bollocking and that was that.
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Have a look at this website - some very useful info
http://www.pepipoo.com/ (http://www.pepipoo.com/)
Its been recommended to others in the same boat as yourself on other forums.
Good luck
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Mr loophole.
Court summons or n.i.p come through the post, or are you just anticipating that it might?
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PM'd you someone I know. He ain't cheap, but he's one of the best in the field.
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Ok here is the full and true story:
Coming back from a night out on saturday night.
Got pulled over for speeding, not doing stupid speeds about 40ish,
then was breathalyzed ........
Back at the station I blew just over 40. (legal limit being 35) - (shocked as i only had 1x bottle of beer and 1 x shot)
anyway because it was in the low end I was given an option to have a blood test which I accepted.
When they finished their paper work they breathalyzed me again (this was an unofficial test to see if they could give me my keys back) and it read 37.
So I was released on bail and given my keys back.
I am due back at the station in Jan to see "if it will go to court" (his words not mine)
Long and short of it is I'm sh**ing myself as I drive for work, and my insurance is high enough at the moment.
If I am charged I will have to sell the car, :sad1: loose my job :sad1: and possibly have to sell my flat :sad1: because with no income I wont be able to pay the mortgage.
I am not looking for any Sympathy just advice.
Thanks
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dont drink and drive ever pure and simple not even one drink it not worth it so just wait it out and see what happens also find out when the machine had its last check up to give them the figures
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was told that the machine had been calibrated this year sometime and it only needs to be done once a year?
should i get this confirmed in writing?
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This is stating the obvious but make sure you drive like a saint between now and Jan.
TBH ive never heard of them giving keys back to the driver once they've been breathalyzed over the limit - they normally make you sleep in a cell over night?! Hopefully its just scare tactics
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Feel for u man but like said never even have one drink if driving. Hindsight and all that but who knows the police might take sympathy on u and decide not to prosecute
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am anticipating the worst, so anything less will be a huge bonus.
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As you said, 35 is the legal limit and if you blow 37-38 on the road side then they won't bother arresting you in most cases (just give you a bollocking). This is because by the time they get you back to the station the chances are it will be a waste of time due to the booze wearing off and you'd be under the limit on the main machine. What is also interesting is that if you blow below 40 on the main machine, they still don't prosecute :confused:. Something to do with margain of error..
This is all information I have received from my future brother in law who is a traffic copper.. With you blowing bang on 40 i'm not entirely sure what will happen, but if you don't have a NIP, then I think you may be a very lucky boy..
Why you would have a shot though when driving baffles me a bit :confused: I occasionally have one pint (with a big tops) just like the next man. But wouldn't dream of banging a shot down, as that's the sort of thing I do when i'm on a session.. :laugh:
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This is stating the obvious but make sure you drive like a saint between now and Jan.
TBH ive never heard of them giving keys back to the driver once they've been breathalyzed over the limit - they normally make you sleep in a cell over night?! Hopefully its just scare tactics
I was also going to say the same, i have never heard of this either!. I am very surprised they gave the keys back even when you were technically still over the limit after blowing a 37??. Hope it is just scare tactics mate, never nice when you see those blue lights come on :ashamed:
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As you said, 35 is the legal limit and if you blow 37-38 on the road side then they won't bother arresting you in most cases (just give you a bollocking). This is because by the time they get you back to the station the chances are it will be a waste of time due to the booze wearing off and you'd be under the limit on the main machine. What is also interesting is that if you blow below 40 on the main machine, they still don't prosecute :confused:. Something to do with margain of error..
This is all information I have received from my future brother in law who is a traffic copper.. With you blowing bang on 40 i'm not entirely sure what will happen, but if you don't have a NIP, then I think you may be a very lucky boy..
Why you would have a shot though when driving baffles me a bit :confused: I occasionally have one pint (with a big tops) just like the next man. But wouldn't dream of banging a shot down, as that's the sort of thing I do when i'm on a session.. :laugh:
Agreed on this one, a shot on top of a beer is a big no no! :mad:
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Thanks for the info Ron
i know it makes no difference and i shouldnt have drunk anything knowing i was going to drive.
but just to clarify it was a rum and coke and i didnt down it.
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Thanks for the info Ron
i know it makes no difference and i shouldnt have drunk anything knowing i was going to drive.
but just to clarify it was a rum and coke and i didnt down it.
Was going to say.. Just had visions of you doing Tequila slammers on the bar.. :signLOL:
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did a dr come to take the blood test? and have you had the results?
as others have said the fact they let you drive off is bizaar, they either lock you up or ring a dependant to come and pick you up
fingers crossed for you :happy2:
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Yes the doctor was there already (unfortunately as was hoping to have to wait for him)
They gave me a separate sample to send off for analysis, the result for that one should be coming back to me either this afternoon or Mon.
Cost me £150 (worth it, if it helps with my case)
with regards to having a dependent come and pick me up, i declined to have anyone informed (dont know if that makes a difference)
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only my opinion buy i think you will be ok i was done when i was a lad 20 year ago and they dont let you out
that early and you go to court within two weeks well thats what it was back then
hope all is ok for you i had my licence 3 month and lost it for three year thought it was the end of
the world but now i drive a gti :signLOL: . we all make mistakes
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You may get lucky, given the reading was dropping so fast it could have just been the residual from strong spirits in your mouth - the blood may well come back under. I don't know much, having never been through it myself, but it makes sense in my mind!
No point lecturing you, by the sounds of it I doubt you'll do it again.
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i also dont understand why youd have a shot and drive?? :confused: :stupid:
i recently excaped a ban, got caught with 4 bold tyers, got 3 points and a £60 fine! :grin: :grin:
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You may get lucky, given the reading was dropping so fast it could have just been the residual from strong spirits in your mouth - the blood may well come back under. I don't know much, having never been through it myself, but it makes sense in my mind!
No point lecturing you, by the sounds of it I doubt you'll do it again.
definitely wont be doing it again.
Just gotta say Thankyou to all of you for not giving me a bollocking and being understanding.
Cheers Guys :happy2:
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i also dont understand why youd have a shot and drive?? :confused: :stupid:
i have no excuses and no reasons just stupidity i guess
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You may get lucky, given the reading was dropping so fast it could have just been the residual from strong spirits in your mouth - the blood may well come back under. I don't know much, having never been through it myself, but it makes sense in my mind!
No point lecturing you, by the sounds of it I doubt you'll do it again.
definitely wont be doing it again.
Just gotta say Thankyou to all of you for not giving me a bollocking and being understanding.
Cheers Guys :happy2:
Mate, the good thing is you can see what you have done is wrong and admitted to being a bit dumb lol. You get so many people that try and try to argue that in some way shape or form they weren't in the wrong and it was the drinks fault or the coppers had it in for you or something, but if anything i respect you for admitting it was the wrong decision.
Fingers crossed for you.
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Got a call a few minutes ago from the independent analysis, and the result has come back as 83 the limit is 80 for the blood alcohol.
So now it's just a matter of waiting to see what the police say.
Fingers crossed
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My views FWIW as someone who has been breath testing people for 22 years with the last 8 in Traffic ....
You may be lucky .... you may not be !
Legal limit for breath is 35. Forces charge at 40 and over but give blood option for 40-50. If, however, you take that option - which you have ... that sample replaced the breath ....which you were over with anyway. The blood sample though is charged when you are over the limit by even 1mg/100ml. The limit for blood is 80mg. You had nothing to lose taking the blood option .... but may have been unlucky the Doctor was there - people often hope they are stuck somewhere else and their alcohol levels have gone down by the time the blood is taken. As your blood was taken quickly and you then had another 'go' on the breath test machine showing 37 (to effectively mean they can allow you to have your keys back) you are 60/40 still likely just over but it is going to be a close call !
Re the calibration of the evidential breath test machine in the station - it will not be 'out' ... it checks itself against a control sample before and ater your test and is one seriously expensive and accurate bit of kit. Any issues and it just shuts down.
As for letting people off who are just over .... not where I work - the officer will not know if they are on the way 'up' or 'down' alcohol wise and drink drive is just one of those things people don't get warned for .... they get nicked.
You are going to have an unpleasant wait for the blood test results to come back.
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Got a call a few minutes ago from the independent analysis, and the result has come back as 83 the limit is 80 for the blood alcohol.
So now it's just a matter of waiting to see what the police say.
Fingers crossed
JUst seen that after I posted ... I would suggest you speak to a solicitor - the Police will charge you.
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why did they let him out so quickly it readings could have been going up as well as down :surprised:
whats the point in seeing if it goes up if he's already blown over!.
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sorry to here this kong, precisely the reason i wont have more than 1 shandy when driving plus reaction times are affected so much. SO8 has the nail on the head, i wouldnt be crossing my fingers it looks almost certain you will loose your license. i know as i had a reading of 82 on my own blood count a long time ago and lost my licence. hope you can sort some transport for work mate i know how hard it is :sad1:
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sorry to here this kong, precisely the reason i wont have more than 1 shandy when driving plus reaction times are affected so much. SO8 has the nail on the head, i wouldnt be crossing my fingers it looks almost certain you will loose your license. i know as i had a reading of 82 on my own blood count a long time ago and lost my licence. hope you can sort some transport for work mate i know how hard it is :sad1:
I can vouch for that... :sad1:
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There won't be any point in sorting out a car for work as I'll be fired or forced to quit.
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I really hope no one has a go at you, we all make mistakes in life and have "light bulb moments" I hope this is yours. :wink:
Mine for drink driving definitely was, eight years ago now. Wont touch a drop now.
But, you are in a situation, i lost my job following my disqo and to be honest i would get a solicitor onboard now, rather than wait, just brief them, get their input and wait !
I can highly, highly recommend mr loophole, he has a team of extremely good people who have got me off before with less minor offences. They are expensive, but, how much will the increased insurance premiums and loss of your job be ! my advice, call them, talk it through, get some immediate advice and wait.
You would be amazed what can be missed !
I will not wish you luck as that would be almost condoning it, but i hope the above helps you somewhat.
Mr Loophole - www.freemankeepondriving.com/
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thanks for that British
will give them a call and see what they say.
but am preparing for the worst..... :sad1:
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any news mate
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Very surprised they gave you the keys back - keep positive mate.
Normally when they give you a breathalizer, by the time you get to the station generally speaking the reading goes up...
As i said, keep postive :happy2:
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Very surprised they gave you the keys back - keep positive mate
They have to give you the keys back ... they don't have a power to keep them - though they do have a power to keep you instead :laugh:
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so8 he would have herd by now dont you think
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so8 he would have herd by now dont you think
No, bailed to return on a set date .... the turn around for police is slower than someone paying for it out of their own pocket - we used to have to wait about 4 weeks for the results to come back. If bail is not cancelled then you appear on the day given ... and will get charged. Not hearing is not good. TBH if the independent result was over the police result will be the same.
The sample is split into two and the test for the police done by an approved lab exactly as you as a driver have the right to pay for ... which the OP did. There is a list of labs you can use that are approved but the result should be the same regardless of which one you use.
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Sad tale I expect many people will fall foul of this Christmas but this has opened my eyes to the truth and I will be very careful because of this story. I have escaped a ban once before for something else, something to do with administration errors, so there is always a little bit of hope.
Let us know how you get on, we all have our fingers crossed for you!
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I Know its been a while just thought id keep you lot up to speed,
after having plead Guilty ( with extenuating circumstances )
the case has been adjorned twice.
the date has been set for mid July so ill come back with more info then.
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Good luck pal. I know what you're going through and it aint nice.. Fingers crossed they don't come down on you to hard.. :scared:
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I Know its been a while just thought id keep you lot up to speed,
after having plead Guilty ( with extenuating circumstances )
the case has been adjorned twice.
the date has been set for mid July so ill come back with more info then.
Did you get a solicitor mate ???
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Yeh , Got a solicitor, :happy2:
there has been a few issues with dates so it has been ajorned twice now,
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Sweet
Issues are always good when going to trial !
:happy2:
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I'd be tempted to speak to your employer before court if they are understanding. Try an get a letter from them saying you need your license etc and may loose you job plus some other good character stuff chucked in.
Get a solicitor or go to court and explain your predicament. I'd be surprised if you get a lengthy ban for 3mg over but it depends on the Magistrate really.
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Hi guys i know its been a while but i unfortunatley have to announce today i got a 9 month ban
and although my insurance only seems to increase by £450
(using a comparison site and back dating the disqualification)
i am contemplating selling the car :sad1:
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:sad1:
It could always have been worse.
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So you did not technically get banned then ?
450 increase is nothing mate for what it could have been !
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Hi guys i know its been a while but i unfortunatley have to announce today i got a 9 month ban
So you did not technically get banned then ?
I think he did. :confused:
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Sorry to hear it fella.
Is it 9 months from today, or from when you pled in court first time?
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Yeah it s Officially a 12 month ban but
if i turn up to this rehab course, they drop it to 9 months
the ban takes effect from today.
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Ouch, Ive had a ban for speeding before...10 weeks for excessive speed on a motorway. Will seem ages away as its just started but it will soon pass.
I would also sell the car, no point having it depreciate for 9 months and it will also take away the temptation of driving. I was tempted everyday with having a brand new Edition 30 on the drive.
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The Minimum a court will usually give you is 9months and a rehab
12months is usual.
Its become the "norm" for a dui.
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Ouch, Ive had a ban for speeding before...10 weeks for excessive speed on a motorway. Will seem ages away as its just started but it will soon pass.
I would also sell the car, no point having it depreciate for 9 months and it will also take away the temptation of driving. I was tempted everyday with having a brand new Edition 30 on the drive.
Completely agree with edd, sell the car straight away. The temptation is terrible if you leave it on the drive.
I hope your work has been more understanding than you originally had hoped !
All the best mate :happy2:
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just been through a similar thing myself, after been caught speeding back in feb i ended up with a 4 month ban which started in june, my insurance company admiral cancelled my policy with immediate effect :confused: so i didn't have much choice but to sell
was a sad day, but freed up a load of cash and you will be surprised at just how much money you have left over each month without having to pay for things like petrol and insurance etc
just get yourself a ps3, gt5 and a wheel it helps with the cravings :happy2:
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unlucky dude.... I feel for ya... Had myself a 12 month ban for an accident a few years ago... sold the car 2 days later to pay the fine... but with saving what I paid out every month on the car I ended up buying the Golf cash :grin: and I was debt free... win win all round
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Unlucky mate. Sometimes the best way to learn is to make a mistake but the consequences can be tough to deal with.
I got pulled a couple of months ago for doing 90+ (first time). Was thinking fcuk while waiting for the cop to decide what he was going to do. Luckily just got a bollocking (although my details will be kept locally for 12 months and will be taken into account if I get stopped again).
Has made me more careful now though.
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just been through a similar thing myself, after been caught speeding back in feb i ended up with a 4 month ban which started in june, my insurance company admiral cancelled my policy with immediate effect :confused: so i didn't have much choice but to sell
How fast were you going to get 4 months?
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TBH I have no sympathy for you for drink driving but everyone is allowed to make mistakes in their lives and you don't need us to lecture you, I have been caught speeding many times and it doesnt slow me down.....but I know how you are feeling I got nicked back in 1997 for doing 76mph in a 30!
I got a 7 day ban and a £300 fine, when came out the court usher said "they looked at you lightly today"
But just the other day we were in Marbs on the auto pista in a KIA Cee'd diesel shed, I was doing 140 clicks in a 110 then the Spanish cop said €300 please Andrew followed me to a banco and the fine went down to €150 as I paid cash on the spot.
They should really do what they do in europe and fine you a larger amount as they could hurt you more rather than affecting your livelihood
Btw how much are you selling your car for lol :signLOL:
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just been through a similar thing myself, after been caught speeding back in feb i ended up with a 4 month ban which started in june, my insurance company admiral cancelled my policy with immediate effect :confused: so i didn't have much choice but to sell
How fast were you going to get 4 months?
i was doing 96 in a 40, 7am on a sunday morning empty dual carriageway leaving london, cop was a jobsworth, should have just offered him cash in hindsight or a few nights in a spa :grin:
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just been through a similar thing myself, after been caught speeding back in feb i ended up with a 4 month ban which started in june, my insurance company admiral cancelled my policy with immediate effect :confused: so i didn't have much choice but to sell
How fast were you going to get 4 months?
Don't know what is worse lol yours or mine
The Spanish copper waved at my daughter in the car followed promptly by the wife telling her off for waving back saying he should of let us off, oh we so enjoyed ourself that night in mcdonalds when we should have been in porte banus bigging it up oh how we laughed
i was doing 96 in a 40, 7am on a sunday morning empty dual carriageway leaving london, cop was a jobsworth, should have just offered him cash in hindsight or a few nights in a spa :grin:
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just been through a similar thing myself, after been caught speeding back in feb i ended up with a 4 month ban which started in june, my insurance company admiral cancelled my policy with immediate effect :confused: so i didn't have much choice but to sell
How fast were you going to get 4 months?
i was doing 96 in a 40, 7am on a sunday morning empty dual carriageway leaving london, cop was a jobsworth, should have just offered him cash in hindsight or a few nights in a spa :grin:
Thats harsh, I got a 10 week ban for 118avg over 5 miles, topping at 145 in areas. £215 fine as well. Let off lightly me thinks.
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145 mph a motorcyclist was put in prison for doing 130 on the Bournemouth spur a couple of years ago they all thought he was insane lol
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Thats harsh, I got a 10 week ban for 118avg over 5 miles, topping at 145 in areas. £215 fine as well. Let off lightly me thinks.
it was harsh, though seems to be the norm if you are driving a nice car and have a decent job, but if your unemployed, have 'issues' and driving without insurance you seem to get leniency, my fine was £600 and had to pay by 4pm that day, even fecking ashley cole got 28 days to pay..
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Thats harsh, I got a 10 week ban for 118avg over 5 miles, topping at 145 in areas. £215 fine as well. Let off lightly me thinks.
it was harsh, though seems to be the norm if you are driving a nice car and have a decent job, but if your unemployed, have 'issues' and driving without insurance you seem to get leniency, my fine was £600 and had to pay by 4pm that day, even fecking ashley cole got 28 days to pay..
Same with me James, I had to pay within a short period (£850), plus no legal aid etc. The mistake I did make though, was to turn up in a suit and look presentable, yet remorseful. When what I should of done, was turn up in tracky bottoms and trainers, puffed on a 20 deck outside the main doors and waltzed in the court room like I owned the place. This apparently seems to be the norm at our local Magistrate's court and offers a mandatory slap on the wrist and 2 years to pay the £50 fine you got for doing over the local off licence... :fighting:
But i'm not bitter, that's the main thing... :wink: :grin:
Didn't even know you'd been done mate.. Can I ask what happened?
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just speeding ben, 7am sunday morning hoon leaving london and a cop hiding at the end of an underpass - zapped me doing 96 in a 40 dc (should at least be a 60/70 imo :grin: )
i have no remorse though and i'll be back in october in something fruity :party:
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They have raised the speed to 40 now for the driving rehab course instead of points 4 hours or 4 points
The thing is there are still 100,000 road incidents a year and 200,000 people being caught in the south, I want to know who is doing the mister meaners someone is lying somewhere speed doesn't kill it's when you you hit something, driving retesting is the answer and crap drivers who hog the middle lane
Got to stop ranting now
Maybe the forum should do something about the driving re-education of auld-kuntz lol
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Thats harsh, I got a 10 week ban for 118avg over 5 miles, topping at 145 in areas. £215 fine as well. Let off lightly me thinks.
so was yours....
I got 28days ban for an avg120 over 3 miles hitting 155 top end.... £120 fine zero points....
:innocent: