Will I get done for speeding

[gparnell]

I was driving home tonight, and coming round the corner, saw two policement in black standing at the side of the road with a radar gun. I looked and saw my speedo reading 35 mph (I was in a thirty zone) and hit the brakes, slowing right down as I neared the radar gun. I didn't see them write anything down and as i passed them I didn't see any flashes or see any readings on the gun. I wasn't pulled over anywhere along the road either. Will i still get a speeding fine? HELP!

[novalis]

I doubt it. They tend to pull you over if they're using a radar gun. Hope you are lucky.

[Mazjohn]

I thought they were supposed to be clearly visible (ie high visibility clothing) . Slowing down when you see them is usually too late. They don't need to stop you if they have your Reg. number, but I don't think the hand held guns do that. I may be wrong though, if it was me I would definitely get a ticket! Good luck.

[weeal]

They normally have to stop you if its hand held radar, I think only the fixed cameras send fines.
Apparently they dont have to be 'highly visible' and it wouldnt stand up in court.

Good luck

[Dassie]

A radar gun locks on immediately so braking would have been too late. They're not going to bother with 5mph over the limit as they allow a little leeway. If you were doing 40mph then you would probably get a ticket.

[jno]

what everyone said... the radar guns just measure speed, they don't take photos, so they check the speed of drivers a fair distance off so they've got time to step out and flag you down if they want. In your case they didn't want. You're almost certainly safe. (Which is not to say that your driving's safe, of course.)

[heathfield]

Under the EU Directives and Regulations...

1. A vehicle speedometer must never indicate a speed which is less than the true speed of the vehicle
2. A speedometer must be accurate to within the true speed plus 10% plus 4kph.

Your speedometer is unlikely to be 100% accurate. Instead, the manufacturers will have ensured that it will be reading slightly high, so your speedometer indication of 35mph will put your true speed within the permitted limits.

No sweat!

[New Judge]

Just to expand a little on heathfield�s post, the Association of Chief Police Officers has issued guidelines for the prosecution of speeding. They are in two parts: one table shows the speed required to be registered before a fixed penalty is applied and this is the �10% + 2mph� formula which heathfield has quoted. This level is set to avoid unnecessary arguments over speedometer calibration, measuring device calibration and so on. The table for each of the speed limits is:

20mph � 24
30mph � 35
40mph � 46
50mph � 57
60mph � 68
70mph � 79

Below this speed and no action is normally taken.

The ACPO have also issued a second table and drivers exceeding these limits are not normally offered a fixed penalty, but are summonsed to court instead. Magistrates hear the case and would normally impose a stiffer penalty. The table below shows the maximum speed allowed before a summons is issued:

20mph � 35
30mph � 50
40mph � 66
50mph � 76
60mph � 86
70mph - 96


The maximum penalty for speeding is a fine of �1,000 (�2,500 if on a motorway) and the imposition of up to 6 penalty points OR a ban. (Magistrates have the power to impose a lifetime ban for any endorseable driving offence, but rarely go beyond 5 years even for the most serious). Their normal guidelines cover speeding offences where up to 110mph (in a 70 limit) is recorded and for this they are recommended to impose a fine of one week�s net income, plus either 6 penalty points or a ban of up to 56 days. It is open to their discretion to impose stiffer penalties for speeds beyond this.