Safe Speed Forums

I wonder if anyone knows the answer to my question. I am a UK citizen, but a foreign resident. On my last trip to the UK I was apparently caught by a speed camera (36 in a 30 mph area). I have recieved a notifiction from my rental company about this, but have not yet received anything from the police force in question (Warwickshire). The offence was on July 13th, and Avis tell me they returned the paperwork on the 24th July. I'm assuming I'll get some kind of bill but probably not points (I use a USA license). How long does this sort of thing normally take, and am I right about my assumption re the points? Any other info gratefully received.

Jennifer

My advice - if you are not a regular visitor to the UK ignore it.

Well, it depends on what you mean by regular - I come back about 4 times a year. Having done further research on this, it seems that as a non-uk license holder (I have a UK license, but I haven't used it for almost 20 years, and it's still in a former name) it will go to a magistrates court, in the same way as it would if a UK license had a lot of points on it. I suppose it all depends on whether they think it is worth the hassle, and I will have to wait and see if I get anything in the mail. So my next question is, for anyone who has had to go the magistrates route, how long does it take them to get that out (if they're going to)? I suppose one of my concerns relates to their likely efficiency - I have had documents sent to me in the past from official sources, and they have failed to put adequate postage on it, resulting in the item taking six weeks or longer to reach me. If I have to pay, I have to pay, but I don't want a judgement against me by default.

Jennifer

Try the pepipoo site - they are legal bods.

As far as aware - Avis will have filled in the details as you gave them regarding your name und address. Ist up to them to post using correct franking. Und you fill in the form confessing your guilt und they fine £60 und give you three points regardless of any circumstance. They tried to ban an ambulance driver who was transporting a donor organ und fined a man taking his pregnant wife to hospital. Had he not driven quickly - baby would have arrived in car und you can never be sure of any complication - even in a healthy girl.

But basically - Avis gave your details which show you reside in USA. Onus on them to contact you with the appropriate form. Avis contacted because registered keeper und they will bill you for the admin of completeting the form - giving your name as driver. But what if you hired car und shared the driving with partner? We hired car in the past abroad but made plain to hire company that we would be sharing driving und presented our licences to prove qualification. But only one of us paid the hire fee _ OK so Mad Doc paid

But that ist the problem of these cams...if people genuinely share the drive - they cannot be expected to remember precisely when they changed over seats - especially if on holiday. That ist the real shortcoming of this silly system und there ist no apparent learning curve from the experience either - apart from looking for cams (hiddden und "visible" as first priority Why we say cops better enforcement option.

But back to your conumdrum... they notified Avis within the required 14 days. Und Avis returned within the (ist it 28 days? Have never had one of these as very careful und legal driver in scamprat zone und COAST also keep me legal - ish ) I think the prats then have 14 days thereafter to re-submit form to the named driver once they receive form und then you have added problem of the post to your address abroad.

If you hired the car on your USA licence - definitely no points und this would be the licence you would place on your form as well - as the licence you drive on. Your UK licence ist still clean as result - you do not need to disclose this as this licence would incur the points.

At the moment though - they know you live in USA - but they do not know you are British as I do not think the section in the part Avis completed would ask for that information. They may assume you are a USA citizen und do nothing.

Do not contact the Warwickshire prats (und ist the pratnerships who send these forms) - onus ist on them to contact you.

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Thank you for your reply. After I posted this I found the pepippo site, and posted my questions there. I'm just going to sit and wait to see if I get anything from the police about this. It seems entirely possible that I won't hear anything, but I suppose they have 6 months to get the summons out, if summons there is. From what I've read here and on the pepippo site and elsewhere, if I do get a summons, I'll plead guilty (because I am). I have seen advice that it is a good idea to point out that had the circumstances been different (i.e. a UK license) I would have accepted the 3 points and the fine and hope they don't go overboard with asking for money. I was quite surprised that Avis only billed me £13 admin charges - I know some other companies who charge much more than that (not from personal experience - this is my first ticket of any kind in 33 years of driving). Oh well, I've gone from being perfect, to practically perfect!

Jennifer

I have a friend who has been driving on a Dutch licence in the UK for some time. A year or so back he was caught speeding and was summons (only because of non uk licence the offence would have attracted the usual £60 and 3 points)

Once in court that was exactly punishment he had, the 3 "points" being kept on some form of "virtual licence" in case he got to the topping up stage. and there were no extra costs.

However with you having a foreign address I would be surprised if they bother, and I would not let it bother you until if or when the NIP appears.

Paul

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They won't bother unless they think you are being 'named' to shield a UK resident/licence holder from penalty.
Just ignore anything you get or, better still, return it from the USA to the cash-camera organisation without paying postage and marked 'Addressee will pay postage'. Write 'Moved from this address' inside it.
You'll never hear anything further, even if you do return to the UK. Just rent a car from another hirer if you return in the near-future.

Good advice from Wildy there. One mistake though. There is no 14 day limit for sending out an NIP to the nominated hirer. There is just the overall 6 month limit for bringing the case to court.


Last time I had a case get to the court stage (stolen licence, DVLA didn't get me a new one in time) it took them 5 months to issue the summons.

There is a 14 day limit to get the initial NIP to the registered keeper - unless there are valid grounds that this is impossible. In the above case, this is Avis