Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Speeding and other criminal offences => Topic started by: croatoan on March 25, 2026, 03:51:22 pm
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Thanks for both of your responses. The course outcome actually sounds quite fair. I definitely don't want to experience court attendance. So I hope I will be lucky to get the "general" outcomes.
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Assuming the (alleged) offence was in England or Wales, you should automatically be offered a Speed Awareness course.
No points on your licence, no effect on insurance, No enquiry about income.
The course will cost around £90-£100, and take 3-4 hours of your time. You will most likely be able to take it online.
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No chance of being let off with a warning.
As explained in the "READ THIS FIRST" post, for speeds of up to 10%+9mph over the speed limit, an SAC is generally offered, subject to the response admitting to being the driver being received within the appropriate timescale.
Alternatively, as also explained in the "READ THIS FIRST" post, a fixed penalty would generally be offered for speeds of up to 49 in a 30 limit.
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Dear all, I have held my full UK driving license for ~10 years. I exchanged my EU one when I first came here to do my BSc, but this is actually the first time I ever have to deal with a traffic offence in this country.
Upon receipt of the NIP today, I went to https://www.avonandsomersetpas.co.uk/ to check the photos and all info about the alleged offence. However, the website tells me that basically all clicks and button presses are recorded, which stressed me out, so I decided to sit on my hands before I research this matter, to avoid causing myself any harm. It seems the process is a lot more different and complicated than back home, where we just get a cheque to pay...
So I did some googling and read the "read this first" post, and here I am.
As such, I have not yet seen the photos. Below I provide the information that based on my search seem relevant and I ask for guidance on the best course of action and indication on what to expect in terms of payable fines and points.
This is the location (https://www.google.com/maps/@51.0110778,-3.0408214,3a,75y,90.26h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2eSB9xFyYPcH5lyMc5e8lQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D0%26panoid%3D2eSB9xFyYPcH5lyMc5e8lQ%26yaw%3D90.25795167090972!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), where a dual carriageway goes from 70-40-30 as the road gets narrower (and vice versa in the opposite direction). I suspect I started accelerating too soon, or maybe started slowing down too late.
I am the RK of the car and between my partner and I, I was the one driving (as far as I best remember).
I have no income in the UK, but I do have a ~20k PhD scholarship stipend which is untaxable and do not count as income for the purpose of banks (I don't know if this counts as income for the police in this case). I am also PT employed in my home country, I do a few hours of remote work to support my studies, this accounts to £7-800 a month depending on exchange rates.
I never had any points on my UK licence nor my EU licence since I obtained it in 2011. I just have a PCN (which ironically happened recently, as we say trouble never comes solo...)
As I understand I have to submit the driver details within 28 days. Then I will either plead guilty on the follow up form and accept some fixed fine or I will have to appear in court.
Wishful thinking here, but is there any chance I could get off with a warning as a first time offender (this is often the case back home), or at least not receive points [thinking of my insurance here] ( plead for the speed awareness course?) ?
What are the possible outcomes in either case? (going to court vs. pleading guilty beforehand)
Thanks in advance.