The result (see thread "my day of rekoning approaches")

[Messiah]

As some of you may recall 6 months ago i was booked for speeding while trying to get away from an overly aggressive 4wd driver (he was trying to ram me). Basically i sped off around a corner and straight into a speed trap (good one eh?).

End result was the following.

1. Charge of drive manner dangerous - possible penalty, 3 years suspension

2. 45kms over - possible penalty - op to 2500 in fines and 6 months license suspension

As i stated in my first post i took it to court due to the reason behind me speeding (i wasnt desputing the speed, just that i had just cause). Well i had my last day in court yesterday and thought i'd give u all an update.

ok heres a blow by blow.

1. Drive manner dangerous - Thrown out. The officer told my lawyer that he gives all 45's and over this charge aswell. The court blasted him for this saying "theres a charge for ppl who did 45 and over, its called doing 45 and over... stop mucking about and just give the one fine, we dont need to see everone you book officer".

This was also based on the conditions at the time of the offence (location, road type, traffic etc etc) it was on a rural road, at 8pm no traffic or pedestrians and none expected at that time, sealed road, no houses near the street etc etc.

2. 3 years loss of license - reduced to 6 months. The judge said he wanted to reduce it further, to around the 1 to 2 month mark, but due to gov regs couldnt.

3. 2500 fine - reduced to 500. Cos he couldnt reduce the suspension. nuff said really.

So all in all a mixed result, but a pretty good one me thinks. the worst of it (drive manner dangerous) was thrown out, and the fine reduced to managable level.

Really, if i take laywers costs in to account it was as though i'd paid 500 to have my suspension reduced to 6 months and have one charge dropped cos when the maths is done i'm actually 500 more out of pocket than if i had just taken the fine.

but i'm not complaining, if money was an issue i wouldnt have bought a skyline.

Advice for people in similar positions.

Notice that i havnt whined here.... nor made excuses, thats the first bit.

Secondly, get a lawyer, you may think u know road law... truth be told u know jack sht.

Also gather as much evidence as you can. pictures of streets, measaurements all sorts of things like that. Some times this is all that will swing favor in your name. with my the cop said the road was straight with a nice big hard shoulder, my pics showed otherwise. if i hadnt of taken he pics i would have been screwed and i didnt know i needed them until i was there.... so lucky one.

So other than that, i now have 6 months in which to work on my car.... i'm thinking of making a dash for 300rwkw.... that was i can celebrate my license return in jan by going out and losing it again in style.

[Jimbo2000]

congrats simon, good to hear. not a bad result at all

so thats what those pics were on my camera :idea:

[silver gts-t]

was this a 1st offence?????

[Messiah]

1st in how long. i lost my license for 3 months just after i got my blacks in 98 odd.

[PranK]

hmmm... good effort.

When does the suspension start?

[silver gts-t]

1st in how long. i lost my license for 3 months just after i got my blacks in 98 odd.

thats gotta have alot to do with it,

when i went to court to appeal, i had a lady before me that was in her 40's and never had a driving offence in her life,

so this didnt make me look that good.

i still managed to persuade a downgrade from 3mnth to 1month after 15mins worth of bs on my behalf

haha

anyways congrats

[Koukla]

Its a shame you managed to loose your liscence at all, it wasnt your fault cos that moron was up your ass, I remember you telling me when it happened! Its ok babe just lend me your car for 6 months and Ill drive you to work

Its good to hear you got out of most of the fines and the 3 year suspension!