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#Post#: 85885--------------------------------------------------
51mph in a 30
By: Piquet13 Date: August 15, 2025, 11:59 pm
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Hi there, have today received the NIP that I was captured doing
51mph in a 30. I have just turned 50 and this is my first
offence of this nature since I started driving at the age of 21.
(I have had a couple of minor penalty notices like driving down
a bus lane and parking on the zigzags of a pedestrian crossing
which I assume do not count in relation to this and certainly
happened enough years ago that my licence is currently clean)
I suffer terribly from anxiety so I say this not to use in my
defence for speeding, but to justify the upcoming questions as
any clarity on this helps me manage my anxiety much better.
I have a few questions about the specifics of the situation,
that I assume will make no difference, but feel I have to ask
someone and having discovered this forum, I suspect, its better
I do it here than anywhere formal during proceedings:
1)
I was pulling out of a parking area for a local park, onto a
main road, on the outskirts of my town.
I was flashed by a driver to go ahead of them, who in response
to being so nice, as I pulled out, I accelerated hard to try not
to delay their progress too much.
As I accelerated I saw the police and the mobile camera and
albeit braking quickly, new I was likely caught speeding.
Based on the photos I have seen though I am amazed I got to
51mph. It was literally only a couple of seconds if that (the
images show the walled car park in the background that I had
just left and so I am still passing it and thus can evidence
that I am within 100-150m or so of that exit) Anyway I
absolutely suspected I may have been caught but as alluded I
felt it was more like 35-40mph I was guilty of doing.
I am absolutely willing to put my hands up and accept I am
guilty of speeding and clearly I am in the wrong and was unable
to accurately judge the acceleration of my car and that is all
on me but it was only momentarily as opposed to a consistent
stretch or continually exceeding the speed limit if I was being
followed down a motorway for example. The images don't convey
this and I guess that's because its not relevant but having
never been in anything like this situation before, I wanted to
be sure that was the case, by mentioning it here.
My question really is whether, at any point, this information I
have detailed is relevant and might be of any use?
I suspect not based on the research I have done on this site and
other official sources but as 51mph is a significant threshold I
wondered whether it might have helped reduce or mitigate the
circumstances and avoid a court summons, which is apparently the
most likely outcome.
For example not that money is the most important factor here but
its the difference between £100 fine and a likely £1000 fine
based on my salary.
2) Based on the above admittedly being trivial to the overall
act of speeding, but nevertheless, where and when or how could I
convey this? I didn't see much on the NIP or on the website (you
go to, to identify yourself, which I have done straight away). I
am mindful from what I have read that appearing to claim 'not
guilty' or attempt to provide 'mitigation' likely creates far
more issues than it potentially could ever avoid so I'd only
want to add this info in the hope of the outcome being lessened,
not to avoid accepting guilt as a whole. I note that there is an
email address for 'Contact' on the NIP to the Camera Ticket
Office but I assume this is not a 'relevant' department worth
communicating with regarding the above?
3) Whilst reviewing the calibration certificates (the West
Mercia Police site suggests this is almost mandatory by
including it in the checklist of actions you should complete
otherwise I'm not sure I would have even looked) I noticed that
the final distance it is stated as 'passing' or being valid is
150m. I then noticed that the photos of me were taken at a
distance of 155m. Is this at all relevant in questioning the
validity of the offence? If this was a simple £100 fine and 3
points say at 45 mph I wouldn't even be posting on here but
based on the speed I was caught at, it feels like there are so
many more potentially worrying outcomes including a ban, albeit
probably only brief that I need to be so much more prepared.
I also need to be able to drive for my job, but I am not
claiming this as relevant in anyway to the outcome by the
Police, but my employer might not take kindly to a ban of any
duration so I worry I might be obligated to contest this purely
on the grounds that remaining employed is more important to me
than the risk of what pleading not guilty might lead to.
4) I have seen numerous references to the maximum fine being
capped at £1000 unless its on a motorway. Does this include the
surcharge and prosecution costs or can these take it over that
figure?
Please again note that I have seen many of the responses on this
site through the posts I have already read and I do understand
most of the above is likely futile and maybe even construed as a
waste of time, but by writing it all out like this, its helping
me process it and thus helping me control my anxiety to a
degree.
In short I'm asking for a small bit of tolerance if anything is
stupid, futile or simply waffle.
Thanks for any responses ahead of time, I really do appreciate
them and am so glad there was somewhere I could come to gain
more clarity and seek advice.
#Post#: 85893--------------------------------------------------
Re: 51mph in a 30
By: JustLoveCars Date: August 16, 2025, 4:39 am
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[quote author=Piquet13 link=topic=7691.msg85885#msg85885
date=1755320376]
My question really is whether, at any point, this information I
have detailed is relevant and might be of any use?
[/quote]The speed reading is assumed to be correct unless you
can demonstrate otherwise. In reality that can be very
difficult.
[quote author=Piquet13 link=topic=7691.msg85885#msg85885
date=1755320376]
I suspect not based on the research I have done on this site and
other official sources but as 51mph is a significant threshold
[/quote]Most Forces will not offer a fixed penalty at 51mph.
The matter will most likely be dealt with at court.
[quote author=Piquet13 link=topic=7691.msg85885#msg85885
date=1755320376]
I also need to be able to drive for my job, but I am not
claiming this as relevant in anyway to the outcome by the
Police, but my employer might not take kindly to a ban of any
duration so I worry I might be obligated to contest this purely
on the grounds that remaining employed is more important to me
than the risk of what pleading not guilty might lead to.
[/quote]For a guilty plea the most likely outcome will be 6
points. You will initially get a postal plea - if you plead
guilty they may dispose of the matter without attending court or
they may request your presence to consider a ban. A ban would
likely be short - a week or two.
If you plead not guilty then the matter would go to trial and
any discounts are lost and higher prosecution costs come into
play (Listed at starting from £650).
If you are considering pleading not guilty then you should
probably seek professional advice - it could get very expensive
if the prosecution require experts.
In terms of sentencing that offence would be band C - so 150% of
weekly relevant earnings. There's a 33% discount for a guilty
plea so should be limited to £666. However, the surcharge (40%)
and costs (around £90) would be added to that - so around £1k
all in.
#Post#: 85916--------------------------------------------------
Re: 51mph in a 30
By: The Slithy Tove Date: August 16, 2025, 6:24 am
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[quote author=Piquet13 link=topic=7691.msg85885#msg85885
date=1755320376]
My question really is whether, at any point, this information I
have detailed is relevant and might be of any use?
I suspect not ...
[/quote]
You are correct in that the short answer to your question is
"no".
#Post#: 85930--------------------------------------------------
Re: 51mph in a 30
By: JustLoveCars Date: August 16, 2025, 7:35 am
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[quote author=Piquet13 link=topic=7691.msg85885#msg85885
date=1755320376]
Based on the photos I have seen though I am amazed I got to
51mph. It was literally only a couple of seconds if that (the
images show the walled car park in the background that I had
just left and so I am still passing it and thus can evidence
that I am within 100-150m or so of that exit)
[/quote]Perhaps post the photos here - but they are notorious
for having a foreshortening effect that can be very deceiving.
The reading will be presumed correct and your speed was measured
within a fraction of a second using laser - unless something was
particularly awry it will be correct.
#Post#: 85933--------------------------------------------------
Re: 51mph in a 30
By: NewJudge Date: August 16, 2025, 7:57 am
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[quote]You are correct in that the short answer to your question
is "no".[/quote]
And so is the long answer.
Nothing you have said provides anything by way of a defence. If
you want to cast doubt on the accuracy of the device, you will
need expert assistance to do that, which you will have to pay
for. As well as that, your own acceptance that you were
exceeding the speed limit makes that rather pointless, although
of course if the court accepted a lower speed the sentence would
be lighter.
There is rarely anything that will mitigate a speeding offence
and certainly nothing you have mentioned does. You may also like
to reconsider your recollection of the details of the incident.
You said you were detected only a couple of seconds after
pulling out and that you had travelled 100-150m in that time. If
you travelled 100m in two seconds you would have averaged over
110mph from a standing start!
As well as that, there are not many road cars that can reach
50mph in two seconds. This, of course, may help your argument
that you could not have been travelling at that speed. But it is
far more likely, I think that your recollection of the event was
not accurate in terms of distance travelled and/or time taken.
Your case will be handled under the “Single Justice Procedure”.
This involves a single justice (a magistrate) sitting alone
assisted by a Legal Advisor in an office. Nobody else can
attend. Those proceedings will begin with the issue of a “Single
Justice Procedure Notice” which will be sent to you. The police
have six months to do this and in many areas they take all of
that time.
You will be asked to respond to that notice and you will have
three options:
1.To plead guilty and have the matter dealt with by the single
justice.
2.To plead guilty and request a court hearing which you can
attend.
3.To plead not guilty.
The guidance for that speed suggests either a ban of up to 56
days or six points. The overwhelming likelihood is six points.
However, if the SJ considers a ban should be considered, that
will not be imposed by the SJ. Instead your case will be
adjourned to a hearing in the normal magistrates’ court and you
will be asked to attend.
#Post#: 86005--------------------------------------------------
Re: 51mph in a 30
By: roythebus Date: August 17, 2025, 7:50 am
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Quoting from NewJudge above: "As well as that, there are not
many road cars that can reach 50mph in two seconds. This, of
course, may help your argument that you could not have been
travelling at that speed. But it is far more likely, I think
that your recollection of the event was not accurate in terms of
distance travelled and/or time taken."
I did wonder how you could have achieved 0 to 51 mph in under 2
seconds. Maybe retrace your steps to see how far you actually
did travel. 150m equals 12 buses.
May I also offer a word of advice, that it's not good practice
to read headlight flashing as anything but a signal to warn you
of the presence of another vehicle. Have a look in the highway
code.
#Post#: 86019--------------------------------------------------
Re: 51mph in a 30
By: Piquet13 Date: August 17, 2025, 11:06 am
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[quote author=roythebus link=topic=7691.msg86005#msg86005
date=1755435018]
Quoting from NewJudge above: "As well as that, there are not
many road cars that can reach 50mph in two seconds. This, of
course, may help your argument that you could not have been
travelling at that speed. But it is far more likely, I think
that your recollection of the event was not accurate in terms of
distance travelled and/or time taken."
I did wonder how you could have achieved 0 to 51 mph in under 2
seconds. Maybe retrace your steps to see how far you actually
did travel. 150m equals 12 buses.
May I also offer a word of advice, that it's not good practice
to read headlight flashing as anything but a signal to warn you
of the presence of another vehicle. Have a look in the highway
code.
[/quote]
So just to respond to the distance thing that's been mentioned a
couple of times - I fully acknowledge that i may have made some
misjudgements in my descriptions on here over this matter but
already sensing the information and details on this were going
to be irrelevant and not worth focusing on too much, I didn't
spend a lot of my time whilst compiling the initial post on
ensuring this element was mathematically accurate. I'm surprised
its garnered the attention it has but suffice to say I went from
'0' to '51' mph very rapidly through my acceleration and I did
so in a very short distance (the exact distance being somewhere
between 0metres and however long the front wall of the car park
is because thats where the photo of me doing 51 mph was taken
and also because the speed camera van as it has also turned out
locates itself in the same spot regularly (its on the google map
image right now of the location).
I would go to the bother of sharing the screenshots of the
location and of the photo taken by the van but as has been
established through the really helpful posts above from everyone
(thanks again if your reading this) it really makes no
difference to how I will need to act or what I can expect to
happen.
My primary reason for even mentioning it was to bring focus on
the brevity of my time at such a speed as opposed to other
situations where the excessive speed is likely high and
maintained for a longer duration. If that brevity might in
someway go towards being deemed mitigation, however minor,
against a harsher punishment then I would like to know how best
to take that forwards. Again as has been made clear it doesn't
matter if i was doing 51mph for 10 miles at 30 mph or 10m - I
have broken the law and the law judges in a consistent way that
does not include this factor.
However out of interest I have since establish through the
picture that the distance
With regards to the car flashing its headlights - something that
really has no relevance here and thus I'm not sure its adding
much value, I find it hard to believe that in the same
situation, if you were flashed by a car, whilst waiting to pull
out of a junction or driveway etc, you would ignore it and wait
for the vehicle (which has now stopped to let you out and is
holding up traffic behind it in doing so), to restart its
journey and pass by.
I am fully aware that this does not in anyway constitute any
sort of defense as to why I was speeding at 51 mph, but it
merely provided context as to how I acted following such a
circumstance. I will for sure now need to re-assess my driving
behavior but the mistake here was wholly down to the lack of
control in my rate of acceleration, against the assigned speed
limit in that location and its one I am going to learn a mighty
harsh lesson over.
#Post#: 86020--------------------------------------------------
Re: 51mph in a 30
By: Piquet13 Date: August 17, 2025, 11:09 am
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I'd just like to call out NewJudge, JustLoveCars and The Slithy
Tove for their comments which in the main have been extremely
helpful.
I have found myself very heavily depressed I'd say its almost
like a bruise... from the time I received this news and ever
since, during the last 48 hrs or so
but your comments have helped me process the situation and
removed some of the uncertainty which is exactly what I needed.
so thanks again
#Post#: 86028--------------------------------------------------
Re: 51mph in a 30
By: roythebus Date: August 17, 2025, 1:01 pm
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Unfortunately the simple fact is you have exceeded the speed
limit. It's fairly clean-cut. The mitigation or whatever has
little effect on the outcome, how fast you were going does have
a major impact. Others will tell you what the threshold is for 3
points, 6points, and a ban.
Having experienced the speed awareness course a few times (yes,
I get nicked every 3 years, usually at silly o clock at night
when the roads are empty) so am au fait with how it works. I've
also seen the "flashing headlights" videos on those courses as
well as on the Driver CPC course that I have to tk every 5 years
to keep my psv licence going. I've also been the victim of
flashing headlights twice, where I've been on a lain road with
right of way, there's been something coming out of a side road,
oncoming car has flashed, and cor from side road (40 tonne
tipper truck on one occasion) has pulled out and bang. Sorry I
can't be of more help. Good luck.
#Post#: 103009--------------------------------------------------
Update on old post - Doing 51 in a 30 - SJPN received
By: Piquet13 Date: December 18, 2025, 7:53 am
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Here is my original post.
HTML https://www.ftla.uk/speeding-and-other-criminal-offences/51mph-in-a-30/msg86020/#msg86020
Suffice to say I was seeking advice around mitigating
circumstances for doing 51mph in a 30 and I got all the help I
needed at the time.
I have today received the Single Justice Procedure Notice
(Exactly 4 months on)
I of course intend to plead guilty as there was no questioning
the speed or the fact it was myself driving.
I have 3 questions around this though that I would appreciate
any guidance on:
1) Under the 'Guilty' Plea section it asks me to provide any
details I might want the court to consider about my guilty plea.
This is optional but I assume its to cover for any mitigating
circumstances which whilst I think I could provide, none come
close to justifying the speeding or the fact 51 mph was reached.
Am I better off not putting anything down in that case? I ask
because I assume the risk might even be it could harm my case by
implying negligence or a lack of remorse.
The two primary points I would be making are that I do need my
license as there is travelling required for my current employer
as a risk and compliance consultant and also until now I have
always had a clean driving license.
2) Am I better off going to court in this situation? In that it
shows acknowledgement of guilt more directly as opposed to just
avoidance or could it damage the case further much as with the
above around making pointless statements - if I am asked to say
anything and imply innocence or a lack of acceptance this could
only serve to annoy the magistrate resulting in a more severe
punishment.
I note this is really just your opinion, and that if I really
want advice then contacting a legal adviser is the way to go.
3) Finally assuming the best case scenario of say a fine and 6
points - does this then constitute as having a "criminal record"
as opposed to say a 3 pts and a £100 fine which albeit must be
captured during car insurance policy applications does not need
reporting when saying applying for a job.
I ask because I am travelling to the USA in 2026 and the visa
application (ESTA) which I will need to complete asks whether
you have a criminal record? I assume I will have to say that I
do but wanted to double check.
Appreciate any responses to the above questions, thankyou ahead
of time.
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