Hi,
I'll try to keep this as brief as possible...
From my perspective, I was stopped for speeding on 31st December 2016 by a police car at the side of the road, using a speed gun (I was doing 42 mph in 30 zone). They asked for my licence to check my details and (I had to confirm I was the driver and owner) but I was not issued any paperwork only read my rights and given the standard verbal warnings.
I was told I'd receive information through the post and that it'd be likely that I'd get to go on a speed awareness course and therefore not get points or a fine. However, I never received anything.
I went to work today and they've been instructed by the courts to take £569 out of my wages. (And I have 3 points on my licence.)
What appears to have happened is that all the letters were sent to number 47 (when my house is number 41). All my details are correct with DVLA so I assuming this must be due to a police admin error.
I contacted the courts and the best I've managed to achieve is another hearing in 18th Oct where I am to swear/declare that I was not aware of the situation and did not receive any notices through the post and that the first I was aware was on 2nd October (10 months after the incident).
From what I've read (on here) I believe I'll be expected to plead guilty or not guilty to the speeding offence.
I'm worried that if I plead guilty they'll ignore the police error and instead of getting to go on the speed awareness course, they'll just reduce my fine (at best) and I'll still get 3 points.
In this situation is it best to plead 'not guilty' on the grounds that had the correct processes taken place I wouldn't be in court and I received the notifications outside of (as I understand it) the 6 month window, in the hope the whole thing will be thrown out of court? Or will this just lead to extra court costs and not get me the result I'm after?
i.e. Is there a way out of this or is the best result I'm going to get a (reduced) fine and 3 points?
Also, I'm guessing I'll have some sort of charge/CCJ against me. Will this be taken off (or at least will I be given a letter so I can write to credit agencies to have it removed) given that it was not my fault that it got this far?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
KY