Morality of getting out of a speed ticket

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Just been reading the recent speeding ticket thread (link here).

With this and other threads there is a moral argument about just accepting it and not whine or search for a loophole to get it quashed. I think the police line is speeding is speeding - no excuses.

However, I can remember a case where 2 or 3 police bikers (not on duty - riding their own machines I think) got caught speeding by a neighboring force. Knowing a bit more than joe public they went back and found the signs were either the wrong size or the incorrect distance apart Shocked

(not sure if this was on their own time or work time!). So the tickets had to be dropped. I think there was an argument that all drivers/riders caught on the same road would also have their convictions quashed and points reversed (but I think only if they asked Rolling Eyes

, why not just do it Mad

). Cannot be sure if the other drivers/riders got their points back - anyone know any different?

So what I'm asking is - would you get out of a speeding ticket if you knew you had a chance to or accept morally you were in the wrong and/or possibly dangerous (e.g. 30mph+ over the posted limit) and accept it?

Your own stories welcome Smile

Apologies if this has already being covered and someone has more details on the police case mentioned above. Point me in the direction of the thread and I'll repost - couldn't see it in a search

P.S. Info on UK speed sign distance apart can be found if click here. Cannot find link for their sizes. HTH Smile

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m99dws · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Karma :

I wouldn't complain that I got a ticket, after all I would have to be breaking the law to get one. But, I would still rather not have to pay £60 or have 3 points on my licence so would look for a way out of it if I could.

Might try the Hamiltons' approach Thinking

Shade_BW · I'm better than you Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Karma :

It really depends on the circumstances.

Most of the time i know what the limit is, and if I get done, then I accept it.

Last time I got done, however, was on a country A road which I was confident was sixty, when in fact it was fifty. I have no idea why, but I must have missed a sign (not sure about repeaters, so could have challenged, but what's the point?)

Take it on the chin, unless the circumstances are really dodgy.

Only time I would really argue would be if they threatened to take my licence away. I would plead to keep it then.

Shade
Not used to grovelling
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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

If there was a way I could get out of it, I would do. It would still have taught me a lesson without the points or fine. The more that was at stake then the more effoert I'd put into it, a few mph ovver the limit I'd not bother with much trying to get out of, but big points, big fine or ban I'd try everything to get out of it. Would still try even if I was aware it was 100% fair cop, so morally wrong I suppose.

dainesefreak · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Karma :

IMO everyone speeds to some extent, so for the majority it's a matter of time.

I like to say that I'm moral enough to just accept it, but I suspect that when/if it comes down to it I would try to get out of it unless I was bang to rights. Then I might still just try to wriggle a little. Wink

P.S. I also forgot to mention that I have no morals. Shocked

m99dws · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Danny · Ask Me About Stoppie School Joined: 26 Jan 2003 Karma :

I don't consider traffic law as any thing to do with morality; ergo I would fight it tooth and nail if I thought I could avoid getting done.

Also if I did fight and overturn a speeding ticket, then surely I would have done so using the law, so what is the problem?

I really couldn’t care less if people thought less of me because I decided to fight a speeding ticket. https://www.asdz68.dsl.pipex.com/smile/moon.gif

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

I would use any technicality I could. Indeed if there is such a get out for the ticket then a prosecution would be wrong, and those pursuing the prosecution would be immoral.

All the best

Keith
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Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

skida · Trackday Trickster Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Karma :

As you may have noticed from my posting on the other thread, I am against the shift from expert police driver/riders towards endless Gatsos. Cameras are dumb. They are incapable of making judgements. Here's two scenarios:

1. You are in your car with your kids overtaking a lorry doing 70mph when you notice another car less than a car length off your back bumper hassling you to get out of his way.

2. You are in the car with your kids and shortly after moving back to the left lane after overtaking you are passed by a bloke/woman on a bike doing about 110mph.

Which of those presents the most risk to you and your kids, and if you had been passing a Gatso at the time who would have been penalised?

I am not against cameras in known high risk areas but they don't catch drunks or dangerous drivers.
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Slavo · Spanner Monkey Joined: 07 May 2004 Karma :

skida, if someone was speeding behind you, it is advised for you to actually slow down. If they are speeding that much and they feel that they can push you to go faster then they will continue to do so, even past the point where you are not in control.

Sorry, although I disagree with the number of speed cameras, I believe even strongly so that you shouldn't accelerate in the circumstances you have set out.

skida · Trackday Trickster Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Karma :

Sorry Slavo if I didn't make my argument clear. In the first scenario I meant the danger was from the lack of separation between the two cars, not that you would be hassled to drive faster. Most motorway accidents I guess are caused by people driving too close to the vehicle in front.
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