Summoned to court over no insurance

[pete_mk]

I was hit by another motorist in a Tesco car park. I have had a summons as the other driver who at the time begged me not to involve Police then reported me for driving without due care, and attention whilst I was stationary. That led to a producer which the Police say I am not covered as I refused to pay an additional £325 as they claim I did not prove no claims discount which I did as I was with them before. My insurance certificate said I was covered at 03:07 on the day of the offence, but they are claiming it started at 15:07.
What do I do ?
I have listed mitigating circumstances as the fact I thought I was insured. When it comes to mitigating, and possible fines etc ... I will list that I nearly losy my Mum to a bad illness, I then lost lost my Son due to illness, and then lost my job due to not being there basically for 1 week. I have only just returned to work after 5 months off so have accrued huge debts. What am I looking at as a fine/ban etc ...?
Should I even admit being guilty as my insurers told the Police they cancelled the policy the day it was took out, and did that as soon as it was put into action. I onlytook the policy 8 hours before the offence, but the insurance certificate was sent to me, and I was not notified of cancellation until 14 days after the accident.

[sara3]

pete, I'm confused. if you're saying you had insurance all this mitigation is irrelevant. if you have mitigation to explain why you had no insurance, that's different.

if you had no insurance and that's what you're being charged with, then you should plead guilty and offer this mitigation.. but your post is contradictory.

[logic]

i don't see how you could be driving without due care and attention whilst you were stationary.

in fact the whole question baffles me,

Sorry.

[craft1948]

I'm glad you said that logic........I thought it was just me.....

[TWR]

I would first of all ask Tesco for their CCTV Tape on the day in Question then take it from their regards your Insurance.

[buildersmate]

Hmmm. Your explanation of how you think you were covered by insurance just doesn't smell right.
It isn't possible to phone any insurer at 03.07 hours in the morning to arrange cover, so even if the Cover Note does say '03.07 hours' on it, you very well know that didn't start at that hour in the morning - it started during the afternoon.
So you can kind of understand why the police might just believe that you had an accident in a local Tesco's car-park, then rushed around to get yourself covered PDQ.

[Mortartube]

You could try arguing that as the land is privately owned by Tesco, it does not form part of the Queens Highway and therefore insurance is not required.

[buildersmate]

You could, but it won't get you very far because a Tesco car-park (although privately owned) is regarded as an area of land to which the general public has access and thus on which Road Traffic Regulations still apply.

[Sammi13]

Your guilty and its your fault ! I smell a rat! it infuriates me how uninsured drivers try to get away with it even causing injury or death to insured drivers or innocent bystanders and getting a leniant jail sentence Simple message if your not insured dont drive!! Its your responsibility to check your insurance documents and the smallprint and correct it if the information is wrong! No sympathy from me unfortunately we all have problems and mitigating circumstances and that is no excuse!