bye bye license!?!

[Steve Burnett]

A guy I know was done for doing 104mph and got a 3 month ban. During the ban his insurance was due for renewal. His premium actually came down (yes he did inform them of the ban). They said that a 3 month ban can have less an effect on the premium than 6 points.
He drives a \'02 Elise.
Insurance is a very funny thing!!

[davefrith]

I was banned for 28 days once, and my premium went down at renewal, probably helped by another year of NCB

At court I requested to be banned rather than have points as I knew six points would have a worse effect insurance wise

[Tintin]

I got done for doing 101.6 on the motorway years ago , I was expecting minimum of 3 month ban but I got away with 14 days and £150 fine , speedings not big or clever but I walked out of court laughing

get yourself a letter from a character witness and if possible a letter fom your boss that states you need your licence for your job , having a clean licence is foing to help big time aswell , I already had 3 points on my licence which was made worse by the fact I got them inbetween getting pulled and going to court so I couldn\'t say it was just a one off

Good luck

[eyedee]

Thanks for all your help and opinions!  I got caught by a Laser triggered Gatso on my journey to holiday weekending in Dorset in the Summer of last year.  I asked for the photos of my car, but unfortunately had already admitted it was me before receiving the photos of the back of my car, which looked like it had blacked out windows!  You couldnt see a thing inside.  But, it was too late and not knowing how fast I had been going, I assumed it would be a 3-6 pointer, but I received a summons instead.  
Regarding what a few of you said about a ban being better for your insurance than points; I was thinking that may be the case, so I looked into it, and I read that a ban never leaves your license whereas points leave after 5 years (Police recorded for 7 years or something).  Does anyone know if this is true?
I ride a sports bike to work everyday, which is more handy than necessary to be perfectly honest.  And if I got the boss to say I need the bike for deliveries etc. I\'m not covered on my motorcycle insurance for that.  I can\'t think of anything clever to say other than how sorry I am for my actions, and my short temporary lapse of comtemplation for safety of other road users and myself.  That I feel ashamed and dissapointed with myself for creating this unneccessary and stupidity driven situation.  (tear in the eye)...  I shall ensure I am fully aware of my speed at all times in the future and can only reach out to the good Chief Justices\' to show some sense of compassion for the remorse that I...  Well maybe not quite that far, but you get the idea!    Its just annoying that I have to drive from my house in London to Dorset to go to court!
I have to send my letter of notification of plee - guilty or not guilty (Guilty as charged) tomorrow.
Thanks again for all your help people.  I\'ts really nice to be part of a forum of decent car enthusiasts.

[Tintin]

Hi Eyedee ,

regarding the ban never leaving your licence , this is untrue unless things have changed in recent years , my 14 day ban came off my licence after 4 years same as points and even my DR10 will come off after 11 years ( 4 years to go ) the insurance companies don\'t even count the DR10 as its over 5 years old even though its still on my licence

If you can\'t make it to court on the day you can always send a letter but I beleive your more likley to receive a bigger conviction , as I said previously I got a 14 day ban and £150 fine for 101.6 with 3 points already on my licence , my boss got done doing a similar speed but sent a letter to court instead of going , he\'d had a clean licence for 10 years and 6 points and a £500 fine

[eyedee]

Hi Tintin,
I think I\'ll just wait and see what happens.  If they all leave your license, I dont think it will make that much difference to the insurance.
I am going to court.  I have been asked in the letter from the Magistrates to send a note saying how I intend to plead, which may help reduce my \'sentence\'.
Did anyone else have to do this?
cheers

[eyedee]

Hi,
Well, its all over.  And not a bad result IMO.  I reached the magistrates court 2 hours early and ended up being seen 1 hour late.  But seeing as I had a squeeky clean license and was dressed in a suit (unlike the shellsuit squadies sat around me in the waiting room) and presented myself well, I was given a 7 day ban and a £250 fine including £50 fees.  So all in all not too bad.
Thanks for all the advice prior to being seen in court.

Cheers  :wave

[Tintin]

Not a bad result at all , but I tell you now its going to kill you having your car sat around and not being able to drive it

I just hope you\'ve learnt your leason now and will stick to the speed limits in future , just like me

[Steve Burnett]

Thats not bad eh! In those 7 days you\'ll have saved about £50-60 in fuel so the fine won\'t be so bad either.

[Trevrx]

The best you could have hoped for I guess mate.

So, is getting a ban better than getting say 6 points? Do you now have 12 points for 3 years or is your licence clean after 7 days?    I mean if you get 3 more points in a months time do you get banned again or just have 3 points on your licence?

[eyedee]

cheers guys.  Its actually all done with.  I took a week holiday in Dorset straight outta court so by the time I got home, my ban had finished!  :rollin
A 7 day (or any length of basic ban) means you have a strike on your license which you must make all insurance companies aware of for up to 5 years - at which point the ban leaves your license.  No points, but 6 points is about as bad as a short ban apparantly.

cheers