Penalty Points, Speeding?

razz

hi

i recently recieved a fine and 2 penalty points for speeding.

i was doing 87kmph in an 80kmph zone but have been told by people at work that you are supose to be alllowed 10% of the speed limit????
so that would make me safe at 88kmph!?

can anyone just please verify this and give me a 100% answer wether i am right or wrong please!

cheers

smcgiff

Unfortunately the people at work misinformed you. You have no recourse to a successful appeal based on the information you supplied.

Alan Shore

I've heard this 10% rule for 20 years. I imagine it goes back to historic equipment and perhaps when it was all hand held radar guns and manual paperwork.

I have never heard of anyone using it to defend a ticket.

Wendolene

Alan Shore wrote: »

I've heard this 10% rule for 20 years. I imagine it goes back to historic equipment and perhaps when it was all hand held radar guns and manual paperwork.

I have never heard of anyone using it to defend a ticket.

+1

Many years ago, I was told that it was custom and practice for AGS to only focus on speeders doing more than a certain buffer above the speed limit for the reasons you outined.

Older speed detection equipment had larger margins of error, and - because of manual paperwork - focussing on speeding offences, say, >10% over the speed limit was regarded as being more "cut-and-dry" in court. The paperwork for a "marginal" speeding offence was the same, but carried a greater risk of being challenged on technicalities.

These days, equipment is more accurate, laws supporting the prosecution of speeding offences are more robust and there's a greater social abhorrence for speeding. Speeding detection is also much more of an accurate, automated and technically robust process nowadays.

The notion that "ah shure, you're supposed to be allowed 10% on top of the speed limit" is one that has been confined to the annals of an older, nod-and-a-wink Ireland ... not that it ever existed in any Road Trafic Act anyway, AFAIK.

OP, your work colleagues are misinformed and are misleading you.

FWIW, I got 2 points for speeding some years ago. I was very annoyed with myself. It sat like a stain on my driving licence ( and on my ego ) for 3 years and 3 insurance renewals. However, given that I had only ever got those 2 points, it didn't affect my insurance renewals ... and I am a more chastened driver these days.

What I'm saying is, I understand you're annoyed, but 2 points ( if you've only got 2 points ) are not the end of the world.

Witcher

Go and look over on the Motors forum..guards are pulling people for doing anything from 1-9km/h over the limit.

The_Nipper_One

10% is the maximum margin for your speedo to overestimate your speed. It's illegal for a speedo to underestimate your speed for obvious reasons, and you'll find that to be on the safe side most cars will read a few km/h (at least) over your actual speed. On the car I'm driving for example, if I approach one of those speed signs which shows your speed, it will read my speed as 45-46km/h if I'm doing 50km/h according to my speedo.

You can see where the misconception comes from, because if I was doing 55km/h from my POV, the speed van would read me as 50km/h and I'd be safe, but that is because 1. I'm in my car, another car may have a more accurate speedo and therefore I might actually be doing 53km/h, and 2. I'm not actually breaking the speed limit

It's a nice buffer to have because it means you can accidentally stray over the limit for a few seconds by 3-4km/h and not need to worry too much, but you shouldn't be using it as an excuse to get an extra 10% out of the speed limit as it's just not worth it.

I can't tell you why

It was at one time written into the UK road traffic laws. But has since gone. Many people assumed it to be here too. When people got away with speeding they may have assumed it to be an official allowance. The cameras are clear-cut, black and white. If stopped by a Garda you can try talk your way out of it. It is harder to talk to a camera, computer and letter.

stooge

got one through the post yesterday, 112 in a 100. Funnily enough I remember the car and when I looked down at the speedo it read 104. Didnt bother slowing down as I thought there would be a little leeway over the 100. 120E and 2 PP.

corktina

you must have the wrong size wheels fitted or some other factor has affected the accuracy of your speedo, you should get it checked.

Rather than reading under, most read over, maybe by as much as 10%. Thus usually when your speedo reads 104 you would be way under the limit. Most people who are caught fro 112 would be showing 120+ on their speedo

Macy0161

razz wrote: »

i was doing 87kmph in an 80kmph zone but have been told by people at work that you are supose to be alllowed 10% of the speed limit????
so that would make me safe at 88kmph!?

can anyone just please verify this and give me a 100% answer wether i am right or wrong please!

Your wrong. The 10% thing is a rule of thumb, and as has been pointed out is it's in your speedo that it's built in rather than the enforcement equipment. You can test your own car with a satnav that gives actual speed. If you were caught for 87, your speedo was probably showing well over 90.

timmy4u2

The 10% was a direction that was "suggested" in the training college as an appropriate leeway to allow for speedo inaccuracy and to avoid arguaments. Most Gardai implemented the suggestion.
The older speedguns were very accurate and calibrated at defined intervals. Their problem was that the beam spread wider and wider the further the vehicle was away and could pick up cars going away on the opposite side of the road.
There is no legal direction but common sense on the part of the Garda is required.
Of course Gardai in the Traffic Corps are assessed on the amount of offences they detect in a given time and since the position is subject to the three year rule they have to work harded now and get more offences to be reappointed so I bit of common sense goes out the door.

My greatest concern is that you are subjected to 4 penalty points if you choose to go to court. Irish Courts are supposed to be available to all citizens and a person should not be treated differently for availing of the courts. One for the ECJ.

intellectual dosser

I actually was led to believe the 10% referred to the amount of extra speed you could apply when over-taking (only).

timmy4u2

intellectual dosser wrote: »

I actually was led to believe the 10% referred to the amount of extra speed you could apply when over-taking (only).

There is no legislation that allows you to exceed the speed limit in such a circumstance.
But again it comes down to common sense.
When overtaking it should be done as quickly and as safely as possible.

washman3

razz wrote: »

hi

i recently recieved a fine and 2 penalty points for speeding.

i was doing 87kmph in an 80kmph zone but have been told by people at work that you are supose to be alllowed 10% of the speed limit????
so that would make me safe at 88kmph!?

can anyone just please verify this and give me a 100% answer wether i am right or wrong please!

cheers

Always remember that the present day system of vans fitted with speed camaras is a revenue collection exercise and has absolutely zilch to do with road safety. You have no case.!

Henry Ford III

Perhaps your true speed was 87kph after a 10% reduction for speedo error?

Which would mean your indicated speed might have been c. 96.6kph?

magentis

does a speeding notice come by registered post?

djimi

magentis wrote: »

does a speeding notice come by registered post?

No, normal post usually.

magentis

djimi wrote: »

No, normal post usually.

thanks.

Lisha

How long after being detected speeding does the letter arrive please?
Think I was caught doing 84km in an 80zone!

Also can can detect vehicles from both directions or just one?

Is there a person in the speed can or is it just a camera ?

Have heard a few theories from work mates and would live to know what's true or false

Thanks for assistance

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

timmy4u2

Lisha wrote: »

How long after being detected speeding does the letter arrive please?
Think I was caught doing 84km in an 80zone!

Also can can detect vehicles from both directions or just one?

Is there a person in the speed can or is it just a camera ?

Have heard a few theories from work mates and would live to know what's true or false

Thanks for assistance

Speed cameras are capable of detecting on approach and going away. Obviously a fixed camera will be set upfor one direction.

mad_fluffy

I just received a speeding fine today, my first in over 34 years of driving without a blemish on my licence. €80 is a lot of money for anyone to have to pay. But really its only about the money ,from receiving the fine you are preasurised into payment immediately, and if you delay payment for what ever reason you are treatened even more with a higher fine. On top of all that 2 points.
You cannot argue for fear of an increased fine and even more points. But you will not be prosecuted if you pay on time.... What a f....n country.

Jesus.

The_Nipper_One wrote: »

10% is the maximum margin for your speedo to overestimate your speed. It's illegal for a speedo to underestimate your speed for obvious reasons.

Is that the real reason they overestimate?

pippip

OLD THREAD

corktina

mad_fluffy wrote: »

I just received a speeding fine today, my first in over 34 years of driving without a blemish on my licence. €80 is a lot of money for anyone to have to pay. But really its only about the money ,from receiving the fine you are preasurised into payment immediately, and if you delay payment for what ever reason you are treatened even more with a higher fine. On top of all that 2 points.
You cannot argue for fear of an increased fine and even more points. But you will not be prosecuted if you pay on time.... What a f....n country.

Are you saying you weren't speeding and want to challenge the ticket? Sounds like you are saying you were speeding but don't think you should pay because you;ve been good for 34 years

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

challengemaster

mad_fluffy wrote: »

I just received a speeding fine today, my first in over 34 years of driving without a blemish on my licence. €80 is a lot of money for anyone to have to pay. But really its only about the money ,from receiving the fine you are preasurised into payment immediately, and if you delay payment for what ever reason you are treatened even more with a higher fine. On top of all that 2 points.
You cannot argue for fear of an increased fine and even more points. But you will not be prosecuted if you pay on time.... What a f....n country.

34 years of driving, it's not like you're oblivious to the speed limits after all that time.