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« on: September 25, 2025, 01:44:26 am »
Hi All
Just had this brilliant website recommended to me today on Reddit. I have a speeding court case later today and I'm very nervous.
Summary of My Case:
I am due in court regarding two speeding offences that occurred on the same day.
First offence: 11:58am, M4 motorway, 79mph.
Second offence: 12:03pm, same stretch of the M4, only 5 minutes later (speed awareness course completed).
Third offence: 10:55pm, later that evening on the same day, 80mph.
Thames Valley Police offered me a Speed Awareness Course for the second offence (12:03), but issued Fixed Penalty Notices (3 points each) for the first offence (11:58) and the third offence (10:55pm).
This effectively boxed me in, because usually the first offence in a sequence is eligible for the course. By applying the course to the second offence instead, Thames Valley have potentially prevented me from arguing that the 11:58 and 12:03 offences formed part of a continuous journey and therefore should be treated as one.
My Arguments in Court:
1. Continuous Journey Principle
The first 2 offences were only 5 minutes apart, on the same stretch of road, during the same journey. I had no awareness of the first offence when committing the second, so no opportunity to correct my driving. Case law examples: Cotterill v Chapman (1984), DPP v Milhench (1996), McKeever v Walkingshaw (1995) (Scotland) — courts have recognised that offences committed in close time/geography can be treated as one.
2. Mitigating Circumstances: unexpected death in the family so was visiting relatives. Probably not a strong argument but worth mentioning nevertheless.
3. clean licence for nearly a decade with no previous offences.
4. Proportionality & Fairness:
This was not sustained or repeated disregard for the law, but a single bad day of driving under emotional strain.
I've plead guilty for the two speeding offences, 11.58am & 10.55pm. But for the evening one, I don't remember who was driving. Is that worth bringing up or is it too late?
Lastly, is it worth asking for a mitigation in sentencing e.g., lower fine, or potentially a short discretionary disqualification instead of accumulating 6 points.