@AOG
Personally, I believe that 31mph, in a built-up area with lots of parked cars and children at play is FAR more dangerous than a car on a three-lane motorway with no traffic visible ahead and nothing within half a mile, to the rear.
The motorway speeder is, admittedly a danger to themself and any passengers with them but I've yet to hear of a case where danger to the passenger was taken into account in the penalty issued.
Arguably, in the urban street situation, even mid-20s mph can still put the driver in a situation where a careless pedestrian can appear between parked vehicles leaving less than the driver's reflex response time (~0.7 seconds), which is why 20mph zones are being introduced in many towns.
So, in my opinion, the fine or ban should be made proportional to the danger level applicable to the time of the speeding offence.
Off topic but flexible motorway limits, where sensors can detect sparse traffic conditions and electronic signage can temporarily raise the limit.
Paradoxically, in dense traffic, lower speed limits increase overall traffic flow because it stops bunching and an odd phenomenon where a chain-reaction of drivers to brake lights forms ripples of bunching which propagate backwards, sometimes ending in those inexplicable "why have we come to a halt?" queues, with no associated roadworks.
Back on topic: He got away with it because our justice system is *visibly* one law for 'valued employees, slebs, the establishment', another law for us plebs and the entire book thrown at them, for your favourites: scum.