oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
Yes....... an occasion for sadness.
I was cruising down St Stephens Hill in Canterbury, just letting my gearbox slow me down that steep hill, when a motorcycle passed me by at higher speed...and just at that place we ran over the two cables of a police speed trap!
We both got pulled, both got a ticket, both got nicked for doing 41mph in a 30 zone.
I told the cops that I was passed while on those speed-trap cables, and the nearest told me that my speed had been registered at 41mph and that I had to attend court for the case to be heard.
I went to court....... it was a bad day, that day. Everybody was getting a £75 fine and endorsement for speeding offences. Drivers were leaving court muttering to themselves, some had even been loud to court officers. Oh yes, it was a bad day.
When my case was heard I told the magistrates what I've told you, and explained that in fourth gear with idling engine I cruise down St Stephens Hill at less than 30 mph ever time, every trip, any weather. The magistrate asked me a really hard question.... 'How did you know that you were passed exactly over the speed cables?'
I told him that I felt sure about that, had walked back to the trap to look around, but that I could not be sure'. Some of you will think that was weak answer, the three magistrates huddled togerther, mumbled stuff, nodded their heads, looked at me and smiled.
They fined me £25 and my licence was endorsed, which hurt because in 1982 £25 was getting on towards half a week's wages for many people, and if you got three endorsements your licence could be taken off you. But the court officers were most surprised........ everybody else was getting a £75 fine!
Ah yes.......... I remember that situation and case quite well. Of course there are no endorsements now, not these last forty years.....I must have received one of the last ones.
A wise man once said ,'Don't be an idiot! You commit one road traffic offence every day, every time you go out on the road! So drive better, and if by chance you do get nicked then it was your turn......be polite, be reasonable and take your chances with cops or courts.'
40 years ago.......
I was cruising down St Stephens Hill in Canterbury, just letting my gearbox slow me down that steep hill, when a motorcycle passed me by at higher speed...and just at that place we ran over the two cables of a police speed trap!
We both got pulled, both got a ticket, both got nicked for doing 41mph in a 30 zone.
I told the cops that I was passed while on those speed-trap cables, and the nearest told me that my speed had been registered at 41mph and that I had to attend court for the case to be heard.
I went to court....... it was a bad day, that day. Everybody was getting a £75 fine and endorsement for speeding offences. Drivers were leaving court muttering to themselves, some had even been loud to court officers. Oh yes, it was a bad day.
When my case was heard I told the magistrates what I've told you, and explained that in fourth gear with idling engine I cruise down St Stephens Hill at less than 30 mph ever time, every trip, any weather. The magistrate asked me a really hard question.... 'How did you know that you were passed exactly over the speed cables?'
I told him that I felt sure about that, had walked back to the trap to look around, but that I could not be sure'. Some of you will think that was weak answer, the three magistrates huddled togerther, mumbled stuff, nodded their heads, looked at me and smiled.
They fined me £25 and my licence was endorsed, which hurt because in 1982 £25 was getting on towards half a week's wages for many people, and if you got three endorsements your licence could be taken off you. But the court officers were most surprised........ everybody else was getting a £75 fine!
Ah yes.......... I remember that situation and case quite well. Of course there are no endorsements now, not these last forty years.....I must have received one of the last ones.
A wise man once said ,'Don't be an idiot! You commit one road traffic offence every day, every time you go out on the road! So drive better, and if by chance you do get nicked then it was your turn......be polite, be reasonable and take your chances with cops or courts.'
40 years ago.......
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