Caught speeding, band C - seeking advice

Hello.

I am new to this forum so please excuse me if I’m not doing something right.

Today I was caught by a policeman on a bridge with a speed gun, and next thing I knew I was being pulled over by an unmarked police car. The officer was extremely nice to me and explained as much as he could but due to my shock, I didn’t process a lot.

I fully accept I was in the wrong here so please don’t shame me any more than I currently already feel. I’m merely trying to seek advice on what to expect. I’ll detail below what happened..

I was driving with no passengers and I had just come off the motorway and it was a 4 lane straight road ahead, very main road. I hadn’t appreciated the change in speed limit. I was caught doing 68 in a 40. Inexcusable, I know.

The officer said that as this was just over the threshold (66) it will go straight to court for them to determine the consequences of either 6 points plus fine or a temporary ban.

Now, my license is clean with no previous points or courses. I’ve held my licence for 15 years. I do have a young child (he was not in the car) and I am currently 5 months pregnant. The officer said these would be written on notes foe the court to consider in terms of a hearing date to hopefully not be too close to due date or soon after as would be difficult to navigate court with a newborn. He said given my clean licence, if I plead guilty and be very honest with the court, I’ll likely get points and a fine.

A temporary ban worries me because i have to get my toddler to childcare and if I need to attend emergency pregnancy appts. Of course we would find a workaround, it would just inconvenience others which I appreciate is my fault.

What I’d like to know, from anyone else’s experience or knowledge. What will my outcome likely be? Will this 100% go to court or is there the smallest possibility that the letter will say points and a fine and no need to attend court.

I didn’t give the officer my sob story because again I was in shock, but also thought he probably didn’t want to hear it. But I was driving to my grandparents to meet family as we were going to bury my mother’s ashes. I know it’s not a justifiable excuse but speeding is not something I do, and I’m so upset and annoyed at myself. But today has been emotional for obvious reasons and I was in a sad and not in my normal frame of mind. I can obviously state this to the magistrate but would it have any influence?

Again, please be kind, it’s been a rough weekend and I’m just looking for advice and knowledge.

Thank you in advance.

Read https://library.college.police.uk/docs/NPCC/Speed-enforcement-disposal-guidance-2025.pdf

5.6 in particular.

It will result in a summons.

Don’t say you were not in your normal frame of mind, because it will sound as if you knew you were not in a fit state to drive, it will only make matters worse for you.

Your case will be heard under the “Single Justice” Procedure, so you will not receive a summons. Instead, the next thing you will receive will be a “Single Justice Procedure Notice”. The police have six months (from the date of the offence) to issue this and in many areas they take all of that time.

You will be asked to enter a plea (which I assume will be “guilty”) and to add anything you wish the court to hear. Nothing you have said amounts to mitigation significant enough to alter the outcome. As above, if you were not in a fit frame of mind to drive, far from mitigating the offence it actually aggravates it, so least said the better.

You will pay a fine of a week’s net income (which includes a one third reduction for your guilty plea), a surcharge of 40% of that fine and costs in the region of £100. The guidelines suggest either a short ban of up to 56 days or six points. The overwhelming likelihood is six points.

Unless you ask for a personal hearing, the matter will be dealt with in your absence and you will be advised of the outcome by post. However, in the unlikely event the Single Justice considers a short ban is appropriate you will not be disqualified in your absence. Instead, your case will be adjourned to a hearing in the normal magistrates’ court and you will be asked to attend.

Thank you - understood - SJPN is not “a summons”.