Speeding on M4 - Caught by Police Helicopter

[st13phil]

From another forum

I was caught by a police helicopter that followed me from Slough to Reading between speeds of '120mph and 142mph'. Once in Reading 2 police cars followed me and pulled me over, with the policeman explaining that the chopper had been following me from Slough and had radiod ground units. I rejected their quoted speeds and refused to sign the ticket. Do i have any leg to stand on in court? And whilst i am planning to plead guilty to the charge as they have got video evidence of me supposedly. Anybody have any suggestions or pointers as to how I can possibly defend myself or what the courts look for in mitigating circumstances?

Just wanted to add a few details:
1) It was 1am in the morning and the motorway was almost completely empty, I was travelling in a Mercedes E63 AMG and as you can imagine it gets upto speed very quickly

Anyone here care to confess?

As another poster to the thread observed

I have to say, regardless of the rights or wrongs of the act of speeding, being caught speeding by a police helicopter is worthy of much bragging rights down the pub.

 

[Scott_F]

The sooner he's removed from our roads the better.

 

[Dieselman]

[I have to say, regardless of the rights or wrongs of the act of speeding, being caught speeding by a police helicopter is worthy of much bragging rights down the pub. ]

LOL.

That's what matters...

 

[Dieselman]

Hopefully, there will be a cheap E63 for sale soon.

He will probably get a hefty fine and 12-20 months ban.

 

[st13phil]

Hopefully, there will be a cheap E63 for sale soon.

At the risk of starting a flame war, it's more than likely on a lease or PCP, both of which (presumably) requires the user to keep the vehicle insured. I wonder how that will work when a driving ban is in force?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

"It was 1am in the morning and the motorway was almost completely empty"

Almost...

 

[Howard]

Except for the helicopter

 

[V12]

Sounds like the chopper was waiting.

Lots of people drive at high speeds during the early hours of the morning.

The E63 was just getting warmed up at those speeds.

 

[Dieselman]

Police helicopters don't just wait, they would run out of fuel...or maybe they have a parking cloud to switch off and rest on?

 

[John]

Anyone heard from Developer215 recently?

 

[finisterre]

I once had a police helicopter appear in front of me while I was pressing on on the M1 on a Christmas day morning. My assumption that the old bill would be unwrapping their pressies was wrong. I hit the brakes and heard nothing more.

 

[Dieselman]

Anyone heard from Developer215 recently?

He just sent a text. Porridge with sugar on is quite nice.

 

[IanA2]

He will probably get a hefty fine and 12-20 months ban.

Steve got £1000 and 2 year ban. He pleaded guilty to 138mph.

 

[MCFastybloke]

Never drive again is my way of thinking.

 

[LTD]

Steve got £1000 and 2 year ban. He pleaded guilty to 138mph.

He actually pled guilty to the Section 2 charge of Dangerous Driving - not speeding.

 

[wemorgan]

Steve got £1000 and 2 year ban. He pleaded guilty to 138mph.

Don't you mean his friend Martin?

 

[IanA2]

Don't you mean his friend Martin?

I thought his friend was called Dave?

Just checked, he got a 4 month "discount" for a early plea.

 

[Scott_F]

Never drive again is my way of thinking.

That seems harsh but I do think that those caught driving / riding at really excessive speeds should be restricted to a 1000cc car / 100cc motorcycle for a couple of years after their ban has ended.

 

[IanA2]

He actually pled guilty to the Section 2 charge of Dangerous Driving - not speeding.

Only because that is what happens in Scotland. The "Dangerous Driving" was solely speeding.

 

[LTD]

Only because that is what happens in Scotland. The "Dangerous Driving" was solely speeding.

Fact remains - not charged with speeding but with Dangerous Driving due to excessive speed.

From my understanding, had there been other cars on the road - and that would include bearing down on vehicles ahead - then a custodial sentence would have been considered.

The Lanark Judiciary is widely known for it's hard sentencing in drivers caught on their section of the M74. They want excessive speeding on it stopped.

100mph is speeding. 130+ is just stupidity. Even Steve has came to realise it and he previously attended a Speed Awareness course IIRC