Hi ladies!
Need some advice... It’s a long one.
I got caught speeding. Badly.
I’ll explain it so hopefully you have some constructive advice - because I am gutted.
My issue is, I got caught doing 96 in a 60 zone, just coming into a town on a highway. I swear I thought I was in an 80 zone. My heart stopped when I was told it was a 60.
Outcome $524 fine & 3mth suspended license.
I was at work - I am a sales rep who relies on my license for work & support myself & 2 young kids, alone. One kid is at school & one is in daycare. I work full time, Mon - Friday.
So - It was lunch time, I was helping deliver some goods that had been messed up by my work to another business. I had just taken a call from a colleague stating they needed help & was seeing if I could assist. I jumped into my car & exited a different entrance than what I came in at - it was an 80 zone when I entered.
The 60 speed sign is at the exit that I left, but as I was concentrating on the traffic coming both ways I honestly didn’t see it.
I saw the cop coming towards me, looked down & realized I was over & back off, but I knew I had been done. The sign just ahead of me was a 60. I saw the cop pull over & turn around, so I pulled over in the first car park & waited for him.
It wasn’t until he explained that I was actually in a 60 zone that I knew I was in trouble.
I rely on my license. This is the first time I’ve ever done my license.
My question is - what are my chances of pleading for a consideration? I’m not denying that I was speeding, I’m not wanting to avoid paying the fine, but I’m praying that they could offer for me to go an a good behavior for 12mths or something?!
I am honestly losing sleep as to how on earth I’m going to get my kids around & how on earth I’m going to get to work & work when I need my license.
I’m in VIC - I know that different rules apply to different states.
Thanks for reading if you got this far. :(
12 Replies
Pleading guilty of speeding thinking it was only 16 over doesn't make it sound any better. 96 in a zone that's 60 or 80 sounds really dangerous.
You can Google the reasons that are acceptable reasons for leniency.
You might get a work license if you get a nice judge
But I’m sorry with that speed in a 60km limit I’m surprised you didn’t get suspended for longer
Apply for an Extraordinary license, you will still be able to drive but on strict conditions like work related only or something. Its not worth fighting the suspension. I am in WA so I'm assuming they have extraordinary licenses in other states.
I mean, it sucks majorly but I think you'll probably just have to cop it on the chin.
You may have been successful if there wasn't clear signage but as there was, you just failing to notice it probably won't get you far.
You could request a restricted licence but realistically, I'd start making plans should it turn out worst case scenario.
You may be able to get a work license but they have very strict conditions including the loss of licence for 12 months if caught doing the wrong thing ( this was the case for us in new we decided to take the 3 months) if you fight it you need to understand it may be worse. Look into a specific traffic laws lawyer
My husband - the silly thing he is - got 4 speeding fines in a week (highway, he didnt realise how the point to point cameras worked and his face when I explained it to him when the first one rolled in was hilarious he knew he was done for)
Anyway, he was on his p1s and got a 3 yr good behavior bond. Kept his nose clean for the 3 years then got caught doing 118 in an 80 zone. They offered him another good behaviour bond but 3 years or a one year suspension. He took the suspension so he could have a clean license when he got it back. Hopefully hes learned his lesson because I'll kill him if he loses it again. We're in SA but the point of my comment is that generally you get offered a good behaviour bond for your first offence.
Second to that - one friend has had 3 suspensions and each one of them is from him wrecking a fresh good behavior bond.
Best friend lost all her points - good behaviour bond.
I wouldn't stress too hard until they say they're taking your license.
I've had a clean license for 8 years but nearly everyone I know has been put on a good behaviour bond at some point in my time of knowing them.
It's the responsibility of the driver to know the speed limit.
I can't imagine you'll be getting off, almost 40 over is crazy. And I've actually heard of judges being harsher on people who take cases to court to try and get off, when it's obvious they're just using it as an excuse to put off paying. Maybe go back to where you got the ticket and look for signage. But honestly, start figuring out a way to make no licence work.
I doubt you can get off. My partner got caught speeding, I dont drive, I was pregnant, he was a tradie and had to drive to work. He tried to appeal and didn't get approved. His suspension was for longer too. He had to quit his job and just take a shit job he could walk to. Someone else had to drive me to hospital while i was in labour which shattered me because I didn't want anyone else involved. We suffered so much financially. It still effects our lives 4 years later.
It is possible to plead for consideration... if it was your first offence then you have a chance.
BUT... you were still doing 16 over what you thought you were meant to be doing. So I wouldn't count on them being nice to you. I also think that if they don't let you off, that you deserve it. 16 over is still incredibly dangerous. 36 over is just a death waiting to happen.
Don’t get too upset about the comments. I bet some are the ones who PRETEND they are great little drivers but actually drive like those they put down. I have watched so many carry on like some have on this post BUT are guilty of it. I am a careful driver(years of driving heavily modified muscle cars) but have sped in my miss daisy barina(was a 50 previously a 60 when I drove it last). We all stuff up. You can appeal as I know many actual hoons who have. Hope it works out for you.
Hire someone to drive you around in your car 🤷♀️
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