3. Going to court to ask to do speed awareness
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Going to court to ask to do speed awareness
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Hi all

Looked through the forum and cant find a case similar to what im about to ask, but presume there will be one somewhere.

Currently got 0 points

Daughter got a letter stating her car was doing 81MPH on the M62, where the limit was 70MPH.

We received this letter 5 weeks after it was sent as we'd moved, and Royal Mail didnt forward it.

I was driving so she nominated me, then i sent the letter back confirming as much ... presumed id get the offer of a Speed Awareness Course, but i merely got the 3 points plus £100 fine.

Is it worth going to court to ask to do the Speed Awareness course as i fall within the guidelines, or will that just get me 6 points, court costs and a larger fine?

Reason being a few weeks after this i then got caught doing 43MPH in a 30 zone and will accept the fine/points for this ... but obviously want to keep the points tally as low as possible.

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Re: Going to court to ask to do speed awareness
« Reply #1 on: »
The court cannot award a speed awareness course, courses are at the discretion of the police force only.
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Re: Going to court to ask to do speed awareness
« Reply #2 on: »
Thanks for your reply, I will call and ask,though presume there is next to no chance.
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Re: Going to court to ask to do speed awareness
« Reply #3 on: »
Absolutely no chance.

Courses are offered instead of going to court, once you’ve been taken to court it’s too late.

The Conditional offer of fixed penalty is your best option.

The course is presumably not offered because now it’s too late to book and take the course within 6 months, after which they can not prosecute you.
« Last Edit: September 09, 2025, 12:06:38 pm by jfollows »
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Re: Going to court to ask to do speed awareness
« Reply #4 on: »
Quote from: jfollows on September 09, 2025, 12:03:35 pm
Absolutely no chance.

Courses are offered instead of going to court, once you’ve been taken to court it’s too late.

The Conditional offer of fixed penalty is your best option.

The course is presumably not offered because now it’s too late to book and take the course within 6 months, after which they can not prosecute you.

Offence was 29th June, so within timeframe.
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Re: Going to court to ask to do speed awareness
« Reply #5 on: »
You would not get six points in court. The guideline is only three (though the financial penalty will be far higher).

But, as above, the court has no power to order a course so you would be wasting your time and money going there.

It does seem a little early to cut out the option of a course. Most forces offer them up to about three months after the date of the offence. Have you done one for an offence in the three years prior to this one?

If not, it may be worth phone call to the ticket office to ask why you have not been offered one.

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...a few weeks after this i then got caught doing 43MPH in a 30 zone and will accept the fine/points for this

Just on a point of pedantry, you don't get a choice. You either accept a fixed penalty (£100 and three points) or a fine (plus a surcharge and costs) and points will be imposed by the court.
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  3. Going to court to ask to do speed awareness