Back in August we were returning from a holiday in Derbyshire with our daughter and our two granddaughters, when I was caught in a speed-trap in the village of Grindleford by an officer with a hand held radar gun, who appeared from behind a stone wall. I was then shown the camera that had recorded my speed of 42 mph in a 30 limit and was cautioned and informed that the fine would be a fixed penalty of £60 and 3 points on my license. I admitted the offence but was unable to give the officer my driving licence as we were due to go on holiday to the USA, where we had booked and paid for a hire car and so I needed the licence. He understood perfectly, taking all the details down and finished by saying that the case would then be referred to the local Magistrates court and they would be in touch saying also that I would have to pay the court costs. At the end of September I received a Summons from the court saying that the case would be heard on the 29th October and that I could plead guilty by post or in person (there was also a third option of pleading not guilty in person). I pleaded guilty by post, however with the documents there was a form entitled Statement of Financial Circumstances which was required to be completed by law (yes I queried this with the court). Basically the form asks for occupation, earnings, and savings. On the one side, then expenses i.e. mortgage, rent, rates, and general expenses, so in a nutshell your whole life on a personal balance sheet. I have just received the documents from the court. I was fined £263 with £15 costs and had my licence endorsed with 4 points on a clean licence. I find myself speechless and numbed by the whole episode. This must be a warning to all of us all. If you are caught by a speed camera, please pay the fixed penalty and take the 3 points because that's the better deal. I always went along with the old saying that 'the punishment should fit the crime'. This is clearly a case of 'the punishment fitting the defendant's means'.