Speeding - Identify the Driver

[rossybee]

Just got a letter from Police Scotland dated 7th June for a "Requirement to Identify the Driver" for a vehicle doing 83 in a 70. Random car.

Now, the time, date and location does fit in with a particular stretch of road I was on, driving home in a hire car, having been offshore.

The letter also states that "The allegation is supported by photographic and/or dvd evidence" and it asks if I was the driver of the vehice at this time.

The date of the offence is 11 March - I take it the 2 wk rule doesn't apply here?

Do I actually have a leg to stand on or just suck it up?

Irony is my licence just got clean in March

[neil]

I think the 2 week rule only applies to them contacting the owner so in this case the hire car company. Admittedly the hire car company could have screwed up and sent them the wrong details although if you were there about that time then it sounds unlikely. I think it's just one to suck up and put down to experience.

[robin]

Do you have any records of the hire car you actually hired - if you can be sure that this is the one you were driving I guess you should tell them?

Otherwise I would be inclined first to write back and say that it's not your vehicle, you don't recognise the reggie and thus you are unable to assist them. It's not up to you to identify the driver of a random vehicle they ask about. Of course if it actually is a car that was hired to you then they'll use the records from the hire car company to show it was hired to you at the time and maybe that is sufficient to prove you were driving.

I thought that the speed cameras that took pictures didn't take pictures of the driver (in Scotland) because that wasn't allowed as evidence (no idea why) - so maybe whatever pictures they might have might not actually identify you?

In the end I suspect that if the trail leads to your door, the system will make you pay ... so maybe easiest to pay up and move on?

Cheers,
Robin

[tut]

They do take pics Robin, I sent away for them twice, hi res colour, just to check it was Spike. However although you can do nothing about the speed or reg, the photo comes last when you are closer so you can go head down or put you hand over your face.

Ross, a little birdy told me that he thought this might be the driver.

Capt Spike Marie
Officers Mess
Maaten al-Sarra Air Base
Kufra
Libya

tut

[campbell]

Yep, the photo is more than good enough to ID the driver.

I sent for mine many years ago. I would ask to see it if I was alleged to have a hire car etc.

[robin]

Yes, but are they allowed to use the photo? Most of the gatsos in scotland are rear facing - how do they identify the driver from that?

[campbell]

Ah. I had assumed Scam Van.

GATSOS are so last decade

[tut]

Likewise, as you say Gatsos only get the back of your head, though you have even less excuse to get nabbed if you are caught by a Gatso, unlike Scam Vans who are sneaky barsteward.

tut

[rossybee]

Sorry chaps, to clarify, it was a scamvan.

I have a hire car every fortnight so lose track what I had and when, and usually photograph the car prior to it being collected as proof I haven't pranged it, but for some reason I didn't with this one so cannot be sure the reg on the letter is the car I had that day.

If it was me, I'm happy to suck it up, but would prefer proof first I think, rather than taking blame for something which *mightn't* have been me....

...or am I kidding myself here?

Oh and thanks for the comments so far chaps

[p4ilip]

Id ask for a photograph anyway if it's free so you can identify the culprit. Just say you had been drinking and can't remember who was driving!

[j2 lot]

Sooo letting the side down by being caught in an unidentifiable hire car when there are so many more desirable options in which to get caught

[p4ilip]

I found this which might help you. I'd read somewhere once that the police don't reply to every letter sent to them so may be worth corresponding with them to see if they give up?! http://www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/disput ... river.html

[Andy G]

Capt Spike Marie
Officers Mess
Maaten al-Sarra Air Base
Kufra
Libya
tut

He's back again!

[ClarkyBoy]

It is really up to them or at the very least the hire company to prove the driver etc.

The hire car certainly has to prove who was responsible for the car for insurance purposes.

The law have to prove it was the person the hire company say it was.

There is a high chance (having had a hire car 'issue' previously) that the records are incomplete, lost or not filed properly. you may well just get away with it. if not, nothing lost if you ask the right questions.

As you say, you have loads of hire cars and don't always keep a track of them, you don't have recollection of that particular day or car. ask for a photo, detailing that if it was you you will take the punishment, but would like to be sure it was you in the 1st place.

[David]

I did have police inquiring about a work vehicle that had allegedly committed a red light offense, but when we checked the times, we had no idea of who was driving it (several possible drivers). So we asked for more details, and nothing further happen. I suspect many of these are pursued with a hope that someone will own up, rather than any hard evidence.