Summary offences - best way to plead guilty?

I was spotted using a bus lane in nottingham in may and the summons
has finally arrived. Ive got the option of pleading guilty by post or
in person, or pleading not guilty.

As I had commited the offence (no argument there - I've posted on this
previously), what is the best way to proceed to minimise the cost?

Do you tend to get a lower fine if you go in person and attempt to
give mitigating circumstances (not too many of them apart from the
fact that I would have to contend with staying in line with motorists
who regularly change lanes without checking blind spots, etc, the bus
lane is far safer than being in the other two lanes of traffic (doubt
plod will see it that way though) in an attempt to reduce the fine, or
do they give you a higher fine (and/or costs) for wasting their time?

Any help/thoughts appreciated.

Simon T.

 

Become a Mason. Works for me

--
cane [at] ukrm.org ¦ fireblade, r30
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In uk.rec.motorcycles, Wickerman said:

ITYM you wanted to get to your destination quicker ;-)

If it was me, and it has been many times, I'd just cough up the cash.
It's a lot less grief in the long run. IME you'll end up paying
eventually.

 

You'll probably find there is a fixed penalty in the local order used to
prosecute you. So whether you plead guilty by letter or go to the court the
fine will probably be the same.

Gary

ST1300P in a fetching yellow and blue colour scheme

 

I would think that if you go and argue the toss you'll be seen as wasting
everyone's time . Just pay up ffs.

 

Guilty by post should result in a fixed penalty fine.

 

Do you get points for this sort of thing, or is it just a fine?

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Slider said:

It's just a fine. Pay up quickly and it's £50 (in London, anyway)
otherwise it's £100.

 

Cane pushed the bounds of literature with:

Damn. I turned down my chance to join.

--
The Judge.
ZZR1200 (Fast for a bike. Slow for a teleporter)
Gone: VL1500LC, ZZR1100, GS1000G, GSX250
Orh+ BOTAFOT#61

Cars - don't let them get away with it.
SunnComm Technologies - Judge's corporate Wankers Of The Month.
Currently feasting my ears on Dream Theater - Hell's Kitchen.

 

Seeing as it's just a fine and not points on your licence, I'd just plead
guilty by post.

When it was speeding on the M5 for me, I took the time to go and kiss arse
in person. Didn't bother with mitigating circumstances, but laid it on with
a trowel about how I'd seen the error of my ways etc etc. Possibly saved
myself about £100 on the fine compared to people in similar circumstances
that I'd heard about.

 

Mind you, it did cost 200 quid in lost earnings and expenses, but...

Paul

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Dan White said:

Out of interest, how much was your fine? I'm now out of work so this may
be something I can use? I'm due up before the magistrate next week for a
similar offence.

 

£120 for 97.1mph on the M5.

I kissed arse, said I'd seen the error of my ways, then said that being
stopped had made me wonder if I had been getting complacent, so I had booked
myself some re-training[1] to make myself a better rider in future.

Finally on the earnings form I pointed out I was a poor student with no
money etc.

Seemed to go well.

[1] This was in fact true. In as much as I had already booked it anyway
before being pulled over

 

[snip]

A mate of mine just appeared in court yesterday for 107mph on a
dual-carriageway. He got a 2 week ban and £400 fine, which was a result in
his opinion.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Dan White said:

Thanks for that. I hadn't reckoned on the advanced training angle but
may be worth a go. I did all the "sorry m'lud" stuff by post but I have
to go in person, even though I had the opportunity and indeed *did*
plead guilty by post.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Slider said:

A two week ban I could live with, but £400 fine? Christ, I'm up to my
ears in debt as it is.

 

If you have been required to attend then it does mean they are considering a
ban
--
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger"

"Then I hide until it goes away"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Dr Zoidberg. said:

I see this as a good opportunity to make my case. With the summons they
sent a bit of paper explaining I had to go to "show good cause" why I
shouldn't be disqualified.

 

Not been your week really has it.

--
cane [at] ukrm.org | fireblade, r30
botafo t#50 f#03 YTC #15 bbb #6 apostle [kotl]
New? http://www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmscbt.html
Rideout? http://www.horrible.demon.co.uk/botafof/
"Brace yourselves ladies, I'm coming in dry"