I really do try to watch my speed and it is very frustrating this keep happening - I appreciate that too is no excuse.
Nothing you've said thus far indicates any defence.
I have a job that is not easy to get to - its about 15 miles from where I live - no other easy way there other than by road (car) and I am the only bread winner in the house - my husband having had a stroke 3 years ago.
Should I go to court and claim "hardship" or is there something else I should do?
Can't really afford a lawyer to represent me.
It seems you will be a 'totter' (That is 12 points within 3 years, based of the date of the offences).
The matter cannot be dealt with by way of fixed penalty - it will head to court.
At this time you will the opportunity to submit an 'Exceptional Hardship' plea. You seem to have some valid points to raise to reduce the 6 months ban (potentially to none).
Read the following court guidance carefully:
When considering whether there are grounds to reduce or avoid a totting up disqualification the court should have regard to the following:
It is for the offender to prove to the civil standard of proof that such grounds exist. Other than very exceptionally, this will require evidence from the offender, and where such evidence is given, it must be sworn.
Where it is asserted that hardship would be caused, the court must be satisfied that it is not merely inconvenience, or hardship, but exceptional hardship for which the court must have evidence.
Almost every disqualification entails hardship for the person disqualified and their immediate family. This is part of the deterrent objective of the provisions combined with the preventative effect of the order not to drive.
If a motorist continues to offend after becoming aware of the risk to their licence of further penalty points, the court can take this circumstance into account.
Courts should be cautious before accepting assertions of exceptional hardship without evidence that alternatives (including alternative means of transport) for avoiding exceptional hardship are not viable.
Loss of employment will be an inevitable consequence of a driving ban for many people. Evidence that loss of employment would follow from disqualification is not in itself sufficient to demonstrate exceptional hardship; whether or not it does will depend on the circumstances of the offender and the consequences of that loss of employment on the offender and/or others.
So you need to demonstrate that the hardship you and/or others will suffer is over and above that would be suffered by other drivers. When explaining to the court that you will lose your job (if true), firstly you will need to present evidence of that (e.g. a letter from your employer) and then go on to explain why alternative employment, not requiring you to drive, is not possible. You will also need to explain why you think the consequences of a ban are "exceptional" (bearing in mind the above guidance). Bear in mind that you will have had some time to investigate such possibilities and the court will expect you to have investigated the possibility thoroughly.
Feel free to post further with any ideas and information for feedback. You strictly don't need legal representation - in some ways the impact coming directly from you may be in your favour.
