Caught driving on phone

Muttley79

My phone rang while I was in van I picked it up to say to wait for a minute while I pull in and chat.as I pulled in and was chatting a guard knocked on my window to say I saw you driving while on your mobile,asked for my license took information of disks on the window.he hands my license back and tells me to produce certificate of insurance to local guard station in next ten days.he didn't say anymore.yes I do admit I was a fool for picking up the mobile in the first place.the guard never said this is a caution or you will be getting fined with penalty points.what happens next?

Avatar MIA

Muttley79 wrote: »

My phone rang while I was in van I picked it up to say to wait for a minute while I pull in and chat.as I was chatting a guard knocked on my window to say I saw you driving while on your mobile,asked for my license took information of disks on the window.he hands my license back and tells me to produce certificate of insurance to local guard station in next ten days.he didn't say anymore.yes I do admit I was a fool for picking up the mobile in the first place.the guard never said this is a caution or you will be getting fined with penalty points.what happens next?

Penalty points and fine would normally follow in such circumstances.

Separately, further points/action may be taken if someone doesn't attend in time with the requested insurance cert.

Claw Hammer

Hands free is the place to be. can be installed for less than the cost of the fine.

coylemj

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Hands free is the place to be. can be installed for less than the cost of the fine.

+1 or Bluetooth headset. Probably a more practical option for a van driver.

Muttley79

coylemj wrote: »

+1 or Bluetooth headset. Probably a more practical option for a van driver.

I have a phone holder in the van.i forgot to put it back in when I got back into van.when it rang I just answered it,said to my client hello can you give me a minute till I pull in.i put the phone on my lap and pulled in to talk.then the Garda pulled up beside me to tell me he saw me on the phone while driving.i was literally on it ten seconds but sure it's enough to get caught.

Effects

Yeah, it doesn't really matter how long you're on it. I guess the best thing is just not answer and call the client back when you pull in.

Muttley79

What I'd like to know is the Garda handed back my driver's license took my details and said hand in your insurance certificate in ten days but never mentioned anything about penalty points,fines or was it just a caution.i thought he would have said something

Plumbthedepths

Muttley79 wrote:

What I'd like to know is the Garda handed back my driver's license took my details and said hand in your insurance certificate in ten days but never mentioned anything about penalty points,fines or was it just a caution.i thought he would have said something

My son is a Guard he does exactly this at a stop. No need for him to have a row at the road side. Just send the stuff in the post. Points and a fine will arrive in about 10 days.

ted1

coylemj wrote: »

+1 or Bluetooth headset. Probably a more practical option for a van driver.

Bluetooth headsets are not really practical and more intrusive than the phone itself.

Do you always wear it ? Pain the arse

Or do you fumble about fit it when the phone rings ?

lalababa

You probably got away with it op. Probably just a warning and bit of inconvenience to go to copshop to make you think.... probably.
On a side note not related to op,
I have been working with various van/lorry drivers lately and am shocked at phone use , talking texting snapchatting Facebooking gambling all whilst going down the road at 60. The younger the driver the worse they are. Tis a f**king epidemic AFAIK.

tuxy

Appeal it in court, make sure the judge knows you were only on the phone for a few second while driving.

You will get more points and a larger fine but at least it will be on the record that it was a brief call.

ted1

Muttley79 wrote: »

What I'd like to know is the Garda handed back my driver's license took my details and said hand in your insurance certificate in ten days but never mentioned anything about penalty points,fines or was it just a caution.i thought he would have said something

No, it might just cause a unneeded confrontation. If you want to dispute it go to court. It’s an automatic fine and points.

tuxy

lalababa wrote: »

You probably got away with it op. Probably just a warning and bit of inconvenience to go to copshop to make you think.... probably.

Doubt it as said the guards say as little as possible these days to avoid confrontation.
Once the garda has recorded everything correctly there's no escaping it, warnings are also very rare these days especially outside small rural communities.

ED E

Remember to call your insurer when the points are endorsed, you're required to do so.

irishgrover

My wife was stopped under same circumstances. Guard was very nice, was very interested in her car, which is very uncommon model. Had a friendly chat about the car, told her to be more careful, said good luck to her, never mentioned ticket/penalty points etc. Few weeks later fixed penalty points in through the front door :-)

Avatar MIA

irishgrover wrote: »

My wife was stopped under same circumstances. Guard was very nice, was very interested in her car, which is very uncommon model. Had a friendly chat about the car, told her to be more careful, said good luck to her, never mentioned ticket/penalty points etc. Few weeks later fixed penalty points in through the front door :-)

I thought that was going to have a happy ending... For your wife, not the cop.:)

seamus

ted1 wrote: »

Bluetooth headsets are not really practical and more intrusive than the phone itself.

Do you always wear it ? Pain the arse

Or do you fumble about fit it when the phone rings ?

Depends on what you mean. If you're talking about the old-fashioned one-ear yokes, then I agree.

Modern earphones though are much simpler, just keep them around your neck (they come with magnets now to ensure they stay there, and pop them in when the phone rings.