Speeding penalty

[Ewood27]

A friend was recently caught speeding - 44mph in a 30 zone, so a fair cop. That takes her to 12 points on her licence, all for speeding. What can she expect to be hit with when it goes to court? And is ti any use pointing out (truthfully) that she needs to take her daughter to school and do errands,, including shopping, for her elderly and diabetic mother?
She has been advised to dress conservatively for court, to speak nicely and generally project an image of being sensible and dependable. Any other suggestions? Don't let on that I told you, but she's late 30s.

[sft42]

12 points is a loss of licence until the first set of points expires (normally, except in very special circumstances three years after date of issue).....anything else the court gives will be on the individual case of speeding that you quote on and as it's not overly dramatic I can't see them throwing the book at her re:Jail time.....However a hefty fine is on the cards and I'm pretty sure it will make no difference what circumstances the car is needed for...she's racked up the points so the ban will stand.

[Scooter]

An actual driving ban would only be imposed if those 12 penalty points were all awarded in the last 3 years. Have you checked with your friend when the first of those traffic offences occured within this time span. With some motorists who drive for a living ( ie 50,000 miles a year) you could have some sympathy if they occasionally transgressed the speed limit by mistake. Your friend appears to be a local driver -hence the school run, the shopping trips for diabetic mum etc. If she is frequently caught speeding whilst doing these I would have no sympathy at all for her. Just tell her to take whatever comes and not try to waffle her way out of it.

[Maudlettice]

Go to Google and type in "Rula Lenska 12 points" (sorry, I haven't got the hang of transferring links). Your friends solicitor might be able to cite this case to advantage.

[Ewood27]

Thank you all for your input. Regrettably I don't think the Rula Lenska defence will work - she doesn't have to drive long distances. I'll pass your replies on. Looks like she'll just have to take it on the chin. Less than an hour before, we had been talking about her 9 points and stressing how careful she had to be not to pick up 3 more!

[Maudlettice]

You have totally and completely misunderstood Lenska and the precedents helpful to your friend. Your reference to long journeys is, frankly, daft. And as for letting your friend go to to Court to take it on the chin, how disgusting.

[Ewood27]

Your Lenska link was most helpful, Maude, but she (Rula) has to drive long distances to acting engagements. My friend only really does local journeys - though she, like Rula, has an elderly relative and a daughter for whom she has to run around. I've printed off the story and will pass it on, but I suspect Rula's good fortune had more to do with being a glamorous celebrity.
As for "letting" her go to court, what else am I supposed to do?

[Maudlettice]

As I said, you you totally and completely misunderstand. However, my advancing years cast a great weariness over me and I must ask to be further excused.