Safe Speed Forums

Hi I was gatso'ed according to the photos and the NIP at 72mph in a 30mph. I have denied this and pleaded Not Guilty.

I am nearly 50 years old I have a clean licence in fact until last month not been in our new Magistrates Court(about 10 years old) for any driving or parking offences. I know where ALL the Gatsos are in this area and do not flout the law or indiscriminately drive around speeding, that is inconsiderate and dangerous.

Where the camera is there is a school and if the Gatso slows people down I agree with it 100%. I would not disagree with a 20mph restriction speed ramps and five gatsos if it prevented one child and their parents from pain and hurt.

To intentionally go past a Gatso at 72mph at 3pm in the afternoon that you know is there is not only irresponsible its incredibly stupid and incomprehensible and tantamount to lunacy, its the equivalent of firing a gun into a crowd, putting your finger into a live plug socket, or your hand in a fire. You just don't do it.

So why would I do this? The answer is I didn't,unless I suffer from dual personalities, I have lived here most of my life the camera has been there for at least eight to ten years that I know of.

I had a free counsellor but he has since withdrawn helping me after I gave him the notes etc on Gatso Inaccuracy and David's information on Inaccuracy.

Unless someone has cloned me and the number plate and I prove that... then it looks like I am going to lose my licence and my livelihood as I am self employed and need transport to do my job. That also results in losing my house most probably my wife etc etc...its hurting already through stress and worry. I cannot afford to get legal Help to fathom this out I was hoping David Edgar may shed some light on this but that seems to have now disappeared the same as David. I think somehow the actual speed has been doubled otherwise I just cannot understand why its so high.

I do not know where to go or what to do other than succumb to the Courts decision and swallow it.

Go to http://forums.pepipoo.com/ and post a new thread in the Speeding - The Judicial Process section. Read the FAQ first and make sure you provide all the info requested. They're better suited to helping you over there.

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Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

There is a known and accepted issue with Gatsos that is quite different from what David Edgar is investigating: the issue arises from the partnerships failing to check the photos. The radar in Gatsos is known to sometimes give erroneous reading from secondary reflections or vibrations, so it needs to take two photos at a known time interval as a secondary check. The person developing the film is supposed to check that the speed derived from the two photos matches the radar speed, but they often don't.

As it is also possible that your car was cloned, the first thing to do if you haven't already is to ask for photos to help identify the driver. Once you have the photos you can see if it's you driving, and you can calculate the speed.

Although I have no doubt from what you say you are innocent of this, given the enormity of the prospective punishment for such a crime - over double the speed limit and, given the stated location (near a school) and time (chucking out time) this could arguably involve a custodial sentence if found guilty.

In this particular instance I'd suggest not only Pepipoo but a solicitor.

My take: Since this is not in the rank of trivial, I believe that there is no need to disclose the driver in accordance with S172.

What have you received, and what, if anything, have you responded with?

Good luck.

There is a Gatso near where I live that caught a bus doing 83mph. If it really had been doing 83mph it would have been airborn past the camera. Fortunately the tacho in the bus provided the evidence to force the pratnership to re-examine the photos and the driver was cleared.

You MUST get the pictures and check for yourself. As far as I know the pictures don't lie (does anybody know any different?).

Brian if you have been charged with speeding rather than dangerous driving you are NOT at risk of custody as custody is not available as a sentence for speeding.


Roger, why on earth did you post such a scary thing without bothering to check the accuracy of your statement?

You are of course quite right. I apologise for any unnecessary alarm I may have caused. However, id there anything to stop subsequent greater charges being brought after getting a man "onm the hook" for speeding? I do not know if there is a precedent for that. In any case, at more than double the limit, a ban is entirely possible, and therefore I contend that a 172 declaration is not mandatory by the RK.

Brian, you can find solicitors who will get legal aid for a complex case. there are lists of solicitors by county on the abd website.
also go to pepipoo web site.
some of these cases can take 2 years to clear up.

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

You have the photos!

Have you checked the alledged speed against the road markings?

Do you have any distinguishing marks on your vehicle? Stickers in the window? Can you say it was definately (or definately not) your car?

It's not unusual for a NIP to be issued for the wrong speed, are you sure it isn't a 20mph zone and someone has transposed the figures and you were really doing 27mph?

Nick Freeman the famous solicitor for dealing with speeding cases has a club type thing where you pay an annual fee and you get free legal advice from his firm of solictors. http://www.freemankeepondriving.com/home.asp

I don't know whether you can pay the fee and get the advice if you have already been gatso'd either.

Get the photos, this may entail a visit to the SCP to view them (which area are you in anyway?)

If they are easilly identifiable as not being anywhere near the alleged speed (which seems rather likely in this case) and you point this out to them, they will probably just drop the case and send you an apology, without the need to pay for solicitors, go to court or try to get legal aid.

If that fails, then you'll need a solicitor as mentioned above.