I think I'm in BIG trouble

[markp4200]

Chaps,
again haven't posted recently but today was a black day indeed.
Went out for my usual Sunday jaunt and got carried away by the moment on a super stretch of dual carriageway near Poole.
Open road with NO traffic so opened the throttle a bit and then a bit more. I was being careful and concentrating on the road, so I was quite nicely in control. Unfortunately I did not see in the mirror the looming BMW 'unmarked' behind. The blue lights caught my eye as I slowed down and followed it to the inevitable conclusion.
Have to say that they were very decent about it and I was quite honest too.
They accepted that the road was clear and that it was not dangerous driving but, nevertheless, 132mph was a bit outside 'turning the other cheek'!
I accept it absolutely.
No problem with that but I know there is a hefty fine to find plus the loss of the old d.licence for a bit.
As I don't think I'll be able to afford the insurance afterwards, I am considering the only option ...yes, it may have to be found a new home.
Now that is gutting as I have grown to love my car; beautifully kept and maintained by Emblem, it's a low-mileage example.
It was to have been my retirement treat but I may have to forego the honour...and it is an honour to own one of these 4200CCs.

My poor, sympathetic wife is now worried as she will have to do the driving and doesn't like driving one bit.

No consolations here but please chaps; do take care with the old speed; I know the cars need to be extended but the UK is no longer the place to do so with any relaxation. For those of us of my generation (60 nearly), who grew up with unlimited enjoyment on the roads, it comes as a hard lesson. So be careful where and when you use the glorious old V8s, check on that rear-view mirror and drive with care.

 

[GransportFan1]

Mark, cant you just pay a big fine and have 6/9 points instead of getting banned??? I have heard of people that been caught doing big excessive speeds or 3/4 times over the drink drive limit who took a massive fine and 6 points instead of getting banned from driving.

 

[tess]

aw thats a sad story hun.... you were going a tad fast, but its soooo tempting when you have a beast like yours.....i hope you dont get a ban and just get a fine.....x

 

[ENZ525]

Very sad to hear that Mark...

 

[Parisien]

Sorry to hear that Mark.......society now think of speeders as the old equivalent of drink drivers...not acceptable and the punishment is punitive and harsh.

Just your luck the police were about......but on a clear stretch, dry, good visibility, loosing your license would be a very harsh outcome, hoping the judge will be lenient!

Regards,


P

 

[lozcb]

Me too, gutted for you mate , chuckling tho Mark , you never struck me as the sort of person to drive the masser so thoroughly enjoyably , they love it dont they , just eat up the miles at that speed , Flashing blue lights brings it all into perspective , hope the outcome is not as bad expected , just show them that your an upstanding member of your community who lapsed briefly on the spurr of the moment albeit brief and safe to do so , and that at least you had the correct type of car for doing so,


Keep us posted mate , stiff drink tonight and definately no driving



regards loz

 

[reservoirfrog]

Hope its just a fine & points Mark. I was reading that some get custodial sentance's for over 100mph. good luck.
Adam........never heard of a situation in this country where you can negociate your punishment to your benefit, maybe if you are a goverment minister or A,B,C,D list celeb.

 

[GransportFan1]

well that is what i meant, i.e Nick Freeman, he will sort you out.

 

[Emtee]

Sorry to hear this Mark. Wish it hadn't happened, but you behaved in exactly the right way once collared. Much better to show contrition and plead a momentary lapse in your awareness of your speed than to try it on. I hope this is reflected in the police report. Best of luck!

 

[Andyk]

Yeah that Nick chap is the one to contact ....Not heard of anyone getting off at over 100.....Hope they are not to tough on you..

 

[markp4200]

Thanks to you all for your kind words; and my apologies to Tess when I addressed my thread to 'chaps'. I will refine my introductions in future.
I have to accept the medicine being dealt for my sins.
What do I do now I can't hear that glorious V8 growl any more.
This car is an exceptional beast and we are in the best of motor cars.

I have decided to run with me representing myself and being contrite and honest - it's the only thing I can do.
If I try and be clever it's going to come back and bite my backside.
The two policemen were exceptionally civil and were even interested in the car. We dealt with one another in the most polite and grown-up fashion; which is how I intend to conduct myself in court.

I am most grateful to you for your thoughts and advice.
Will keep you posted.

 

[Parisien]

Mark, from a practical perspective, have you costed up how much it might cost to go with a guilty plea or defend it......worthwhile getting a good brief onto case or more money wasted?

Might be better to take some legal advice and look at it all from a slightly different angle.

You'd be surprised how much it will all cost from selling the car, to hassle/cost of not being able to drive, to upped premiums for some years to come.......versus a top brief to try other options.


P

 

[Maser Sod]

Whoa, gutted for you. I was stopped a couple of years ago in similar fashion, but fortunately the recorded speed they had for me was about 20mph down on the top speed I was actually doing.
A glimmer of light perhaps - they got the paperwork wrong on mine and so eventually I ended up with no points, no fine; just a letter of stern warning.

Without a license, my job is shafted and so is my hobby of surfing, so personally I would investigate all possibilities of getting off - including throwing a good wad of money at an experienced lawyer.

 

[safrane]

I face this problem many years ago [only 104]...I pleaded guilty by letter but was still summonsed as they are not able to ban you in your absence. When I went up in the mag's they provided a brief for me. £450 fine, 6 points £75 cost. The oints run from date of offence not conviction.

If you do get a ban lay the car up for a few months as you may only be banned for 3 months

 

[conaero]

Bad luck Mark I am sure you dont need me to tell you what they will do, but feel that at that speed, this outside the realms of points, its a straight ban.

I do know a lawyer that will get you off, but it will cost you 3-5k and there are not guarantees, but he does this all the time for the rich and famous.

If you want his contact details, PM Donnymac, he will point you in the right direction. If it were me, I would pay the lawyer, or at lest talk to him.

Dont beat yourself up Mark, we have all done it, just you got caught.

 

[2b1ask1]

**** thats unfortunate.. sneaking up on you in an unmarked it's just not cricket...

Don't suppose you have a tracker installed; if you do print off the last period as far back as you can. A mate of mine managed to get a significant reduction and avoided a ban for 130+ because he demonstrated it was a one of sprint on an otherwise sedate journey (in fact he'd been stuck in traffic geting out of a city & it was the first open road...).

Best of luck anyway.

 

[dem maser]

well thats bad news.....i would not sell her now....
wait till you see what they give you, could be a fine with no ban and if it is a ban with a man of your age (not young lout) it wont be long, 3-6 months max....

 

[djmhall]

I've been there too, so know how you feel.

In my case, it was 108 on the M25 early on a Sunday morning, many years ago.

I ended up with a 14 day ban, £250 fine, but amazingly, no points.

Maybe times have changed, butit didn't do too much damage to my insurance quotes.

Fingers crossed for you

Dom

 

[Andyk]

Mark, good to see you be honest and grown up about it....Think I would as well as if you are caught doing 132 then you are caught...It's not as if there is any grey area.....Good luck...

 

[dem maser]

do they make you resit the test if banned?? did that law come in??