Safe Speed Forums

Read Daily Mail article that England & Wales were 4th from bottom in international crime league with a crime level twice the average.

So are driving offences that reach courts counted in that total?

What about the automatic penalty points by post?

I recall reading elsewhere that driving offences made up 1 in 7 of court cases.

If any speeding are being counted in then the Labour Govt is boosting crime levels reported through the focus on speeding.

Thoughts?

The number of speeding fines imposed, far out weigh their crime figures.

The other differance with a Motoring Offence:

You are guilty until proved innocent.

You are not entitled to Legal aid, for a motoring offence

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Steve

I saw a report like that, but that report, like most reports, deal with numbers of crime victims.

To try and answer the original question, I don't think there is a specific definition of what is, or is not, a "Crime".

To generalise, if the offence requires the person to supply Fingerprints/Photograph/DNA, then it is a Crime. If not, then it is normally termed a "Summary Offence".

The individual offences are normally fairly obvious but there are a number of borderline spheres where the Home Office issue guidlines (and frequently move the goalposts).

For example. Having no Excise Licence is not a Crime, but Fraudulently Using an Excise Licence is, and attracts a Criminal Record. Having No Insurance, which can carry a significant prison sentence, is not (or wasn't), whereas Driving whilst Disqualified, is.

Careless Driving (and anything below) isn't. Causing Death by Reckless Driving? I'm not sure, but probably is.

It all depends on whether the Offence has a code that is recognised by the Police National Computer. If a code exists, then it is a Crime. If it doesn't, then it isn't.

But as I say, these categories are very much changeable at the whim of Politicians and the figures that they want to see published.

I hope that helps.

According to our Government, speeding is not only a "criminal offence", it is a "serious criminal offence". You don't believe it? See here (last paragraph).

I was considering this very issue the other day whilst applying for a Job. Part of the application process is a Criminal Records Bureau search. Now whilst the outcome shouldn't affect my application it got me wondering about whether my driving convictions would come up on it? Does anyone know?

Offences (all prior to 1982 I might add) include:

4 counts of speeding
Driving without L plates
Driving without due care and attention
Failing to stop and/or give particulars after an accident
3 separate disqualifications for the above offences totalling 15 months

Just wondering......

Max

What utter rubbish!

Perhaps the Honourable member for whatever planet she comes from would care to explain (preferably in small words only...) how a speed camera will detect or deter someone "...not driving at the appropriate speed according to the conditions..."

It is now snowing outside my house, 10 minutes ago it wasnt..., no pun intended, but get my drift?

Thanks for the inside on the Govt representative's comments.

I see she lists under her biog helping to convict an armed bank robber - any details from 1994?

All of these would now count as spent convictions so you wouldn't have to declare them unless the job you were applying for was "exempt" (e.g. working with children).

Oddly, drink-driving convictions count as spent convictions after five years, but have to remain on your licence for 11.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I shouldn't try to apply for a visa to visit the USA. They require any convictions imposed by a court to be declared. No 7 year limit for spent convictions.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Thanks for the replies and yes the job is exempt. As I said earlier even if they do appear on the CRB check, I don't expect it to influence the job offer. I was just wondering whether they would indeed appear on the CRB check. Interesting what you say about the USA Visa though!

Max

Their is no way for the US to verify if you were to lie about spent convictions. As they are no longer on record.

It is the same with Insurance, who want admission for convictions for the last 5 years, yet most are off after 3 years.

Their is no way an Insurance company can find out spent convictions

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Steve

Spent convictions are kept on record



And I'm sure that under the current climate any visa applications to the U.S. WILL be checked against Criminal Records, so any failure to disclose will almost certainly result in a refusal.

For additional information concerning the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, see this link.

I thought you could not serve as a police officer or Magistrate if you were a convicted criminal....

Traffic violations do not have to be declared to get into the US..

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Speed camera policy Kills

I've read recently that a Drink/Drive conviction will result in a refusal.

To answer your question. It depends on the Political climate at the time.

Many years ago I worked with a colleague who had a conviction for a 'Serious' assault. The circumstances were that he lived in single-quarters and another colleague went out of his way to wind him up so much that one night he lashed out and hit him. He fell awkwardly and sustained additional injuries.

He was charged accordingly, and convicted.

However, there was ample mitigation from other colleagues to the effect that he had been provoked over a sustained period and kept his job, and went on to be promoted. In fact, he was one of the nicest people that I have had the pleasure to meet, and good at his job

In todays climate perhaps the instigator would have been more readily identified as a 'bully' and the matter would not have reached such proportions. But that was then.

To quote the adage, recited by the former Chief Constable of Hampshire, (Paul Whitehouse?) when he appeared on the TV programme, Back To The Floor, a few weeks before his daughter was charged with assaulting one of his own Officers, "Rules are for the guidance of wise men, and the blind obedience of fools."

Everything has to be considered in context.

However, does any of this, interesting though it is, have anything to do with the 'aims' of the site?

Paul will have us expelled.

Am I right in thinking that you also feature in the IAM section of the ADI/Driving Instructors - forum?