Rural Road in Scotland (single carriageway, two lane)
Driving a hire car
Falcon laser device
Cautioned and Charged at roadside, court papers have now arrived.
I had driven all the way from London without a hitch - and annoyingly, had basically stuck to the limit most of the way up - after clocking around 400 miles, I overtook a car onto a downhill stretch, didn't bring my speed back down, and there the helpful officers were. in pitch darkness (no lights for miles out there). I almost shat myself when they flipped on the lights and waved me down.
More roadside nonsense than usual because it was a hire car, but once they had sorted things out and checked my details, off I went. Apparently, because it's "over 85" they couldn't offer me an FP, and off to court we go.
To be honest, I'm holding my hands up. I went too fast. The main thing I'm trying to do is make sure that some Sheriff doesn't translate their bad day into me getting a ban or something severe. I *expect* that at the very threshold of a fixed penalty, that 3 points and £100 is more likely than something worse, but the fact that this goes all the way to a ban and £1000 has me frankly crapping myself. Living out in the boonies, no drive means no work, end of. I'm an IT contractor, so self employed-ish (the sole employee of my own Ltd company), so not sure how I could get a reference or supporting statement.
My plan, by way of mitigation is;
1) Plead guilty, but come to court suited and booted to ask for leniency.
2) Be genuinely remorseful. no worries there; I have spent the intervening month carking it about the possible impact on my work.
3) highlight that it was a hire car, with a fair bit more oomph than my own wee buggy (big VW Passat vs a Hyundai i30)
4) Point out that this was out of character, and that I am actually a 'steady as he goes' driver (I drive a stop/go diesel for goodness sake)
One question this will be the 3rd time I have been tagged for speeding - once was a 47 in temporary roadworks (reduced from 70 to 40) way back in 2001, the other was in 2011, 82 on the Motorway - it's still written on my licence, but I believe is now clear? Should I mention having a clean licence, or would the written on stuff from 2011 still have some negative impact?
Thoughts? suggestions? any bear traps waiting for me to step on? or am I getting worked up over a minor thing?