With the advent of modern cars and better roads, over speeding has become one of the more common problems, especially in the UK. You can be among those who think speeding tickets are for one’s safety or those who think it is just a way of filling the government’s bank accounts. Either way, speeding penalties are something you should be careful about as they can do much more damage than you think.

If you do not want to be facing the penalties of speeding tickets that come with a hefty speeding fine, along with 3 points on your license. In that case, you should better know if it’s possible to “get out” of speeding penalties and understanding the issues you could be facing if caught speeding. We will also explain how speeding tickets are enforced and whether you can appeal in the court against a speeding ticket, in case you are confident about not speeding.

How do you get a speeding fine?

Exceeding the maximum limited speed is equivalent to breaking the law. It doesn’t matter if you were above the limit even by 1 mph, however in most cases, a little over the speed limit ends up with a verbal warning by the officer. However, going way over the speed limit is strictly illegal, and the following events can go down.

1) The officer can give you a verbal warning if you seem like a sensible person who went over the speed limit in case of an emergency or a genuine issue. There aren’t many cases in which you get a speeding ticket in case of an emergency.

2) The officer might ask you to attend some awareness courses related to speeding, and you will be the one paying for the classes.

3) The third and most strong possibility is of being prosecuted. This happens when you are way above the speed limit, and in the event of getting caught, you decide not to co-operate. Getting arrested is also a high possibility if such is the case.

Speeding fine amount in the UK

Speed Limit (MPH)	Speed Caught at ( Band A )	Speed caught at ( Band B)
20	21 to 30	31 to 40
30	31 to 40	41 to 50
40	41 to 55	56 to 65
50	51 to 65	66 to 75
60	61 to 80	81 to 90
70	71 to 90	90 to 100
Points on License	Three	Four to six points
Disqualification	No	7 to 28 days of disqualification
Fine Imposed	25% to 75% of weekly income	75% to 125% of weekly income

 

The speeding penalties in the UK are categorized into different bands. The speed you were caught is the main factor that determines which band you fall in.

Band A

This the first band that takes things lightly. You fall into Band A will you were caught at speed between 1 to 9 mph, over the speed limit. Band A will get you a speeding ticket and three points in your driver’s license. The fine imposed is around 25% to 75% of your weekly income. Other factors may alter the imposed fine, such as speeding near a school or driving a goods vehicle, etc. If such is the case, there is a strong probability of the driver appearing in court and facing an even more significant fine.

Band B

Band B is the second stage. You will fall into the Band B Penalty if you are caught at 11 to 20 mph over the speed limit. There is a strong chance that you would have to appear in the court, where you will receive a fine of 75 to 125% of your weekly income. Another action taken in Band B is imposing a 4 to 6 point penalty on your driver’s license, or are not allowed to drive for at least 7 to 28days.

Band C

Band C is where things get serious. Speeding over 21 mph and more will get you a Band C penalty in the UK. You will have to appear the court for Band C and face a fine of 125% to 175% of your weekly income. Apart from the fine imposed, you will get a 6 point penalty on your driver’s license, or your license gets taken away and make you unable to drive for the next 7 to 56 days.

Band D

Falling in Band D will get you a fine of 200% to 300% on your weekly income.

Band E

Falling in Band D will get you a fine of 300% to 500% on your weekly income.

Band F

Falling in Band D will get you a fine of 500% to 700% on your weekly income.

Note

Simple over speeding doesn’t get a Band past C. The factors that can make you fall into a penalty band D, E, or F includes speeding on poor roads or bad weather conditions, driving a large vehicle, prior conviction, failing to co-operate with the officer, expired license, speeding in public transport, or speeding where there is excessive public.

In the UK, the maximum fine that can be imposed is not greater than £1,000; however, this fine might spike up to £2500 if speeding on the motorway.

Challenging a speeding ticket

There are cases when the driver disapproves of the speeding ticket and names it a “Mistake “by the officer or the speeding camera. In such cases, the drivers have the liberty of challenging their speeding access in court, but they have to prove one of the following things to waive off their fine

• You not above the speed limit
• Your car was stolen
• The speed limit was not mentioned
• The vehicle caught wasn’t yours

Final Words

In the end, we would advise you to always drive within the speed limit. There are your loved ones still waiting for you at home. Going over the speed limit can make you lose control of your vehicle more quickly, resulting in an accident. Keeping your car under the speed limit not only keeps you safe but also everyone on the road around you. Drive Safe, Stay Safe.