Should one have been pinched for speeding, at a speed of (say) 140MPH on a quietish dual carriageway (not while actually overtaking something) is there anything at all that would mitigate, or even excuse, this (apart from being a policeman)?
I haven't been, BTW.
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I suppose you could claim to be some limp wristed permiership footballer being followed by a stalker but that's been tried already I believe.
Other than that, I would have thought a ban and license taken away is entirely appropriate.
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'One hundred forty kilometros, is not so fast eh?...'
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Simple answer is No.
Speeding is speeding is speeding - an absolute offence, be it + 1mph over the limit or more .
Under the new sentencing guidelines the only factor mentioned indicating lower culpability is:
'Genuine emergency establish'
dvd
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'Needing make pipi caca, no facility in sight, big hurry eh? One hundred forty kilometros not so fast eh? Perhaps you like nice present?'
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Perhaps an understanding magistrate could be swayed by: "I am clinically serotonin deficient & had run out of my illicit supply of Class-As - the only way to conteract this genuine medical emergency was to drive at 140mph on a deserted dual carriageway, while all the time, of course, observing & practicing techniques learnt from 'Roadcraft' - the Police drivers' handbook. I am genuinely remorseful & regret my actions & throw myself at the mercy of the court"
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1, Paramedic driving high speed paramedic response vehicle to major incident down a lightly populated m/way. Properly authorised, trained, insured etc.
2, Fire Brigade Chief driving fire service saloon car to major fire (as above)
3, Off duty doctor, driving down deserted m/way at 0500 hours and witnesses light aircraft crash, calls 999 and is now driving to nearest exit to return to crash site. Drives powerful modern sports car and has done a number of track days, currently half way through IAM course.
4, anyone on an Autobahn in derestricted bit
5, m/cyclist riding high powered m/c who's just been genuinely shot at, has bullet hole 'nick' in leather's to prove it...
6, member of public with decent first aid training stopped to help someone on empty m/way hard shoulder and now driving choking baby to hospital. Had advanced driver training whilst in the military.
some of the above would still have some explaining to do and may well cause more danger than it's worth, however i do believe they may well have mitigating circs as you've posted
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If you were the Solicitor General Harriet Harman you could hurtle down a road well beyond the speed limit.
Or if you were Jack Straw.
Or you could zoom down the buses and taxis lane in your ordinary car if you were T. Blair Esq.
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If you got Mr Loophole, it wouldn't be you who was driving anyway, so who cares?
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Would these allowances be made (in your opinion of course) had the miscreants been Mr Cameron, Mr Osborne or any other Tory shadow minister (I'm afraid that I don't have any of their names readily to hand)?
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