Back when I had my first Vespa, a 50cc model that couldn’t even go 40mph, I got a speeding ticket for going I think 32mph in a 30 zone. I opted to go on the speed awareness course, where I was patronised by a couple of upbeat irishmen in a grubby hotel conference room in Elstree. One of the few things I remember from the event was them asking everyone on the course if they thought they were bad, average or good drivers, and pointing out that everyone always says they are a good driver, and some out there have to be bad drivers for there to be average drivers. Or something like that anyway.

“Policemen Don’t Need To Hide, Accused Told,” Toronto Star. May 19, 1932. Page 2. --- Paid Whether They Make Arrests or Not, Magistrate Points Out ---- Police officers don’t hide behind poles. They don’t need to. They get their salaries whether or not they make arrests, Magistrate Keith told L. G. Fabian in county court to-day.

Fabian, charged with speeding, accused the traffic officer of ‘hiding behind a six-inch post’ on Kingston Rd.

The charge was dismissed.

Nelle Lightfoot protested that he wasn’t on Eglinton Ave. when an officer declared he was speeding at 56 miles an hour. He was fined $25 despite threats to appeal.

Margaret Kishy told the court she was at Dixie at the hour her truck was supposed to be speeding in Forest Hill. Her story was accepted.

‘I had to take my wife to the hospital at 3 a.m.,’ Reg Smith pleaded when charged with having his car on the street.

‘Don’t leave your car there again and don’t let your wife get sick again,’ the bench warned, dismissing the case.

“Minimum Fine for Speeders Boosted by City Magistrate,” Vancouver Province. May 14, 1942. Page 2. ---- OFFENSES NOW WILL COST $15 ---- More grief for speeders! Magistrate Mackenzie Matheson has ordered the minimum fine for minor spading offences settled in the court clerk's office increased from $10 to $15. The penalty has been increased as a further discouragement to the waste of fuel and rubber involved in high speed motoring. 

The new $15 minimum will be assessed where the minor nature of the offense permits settlement of the charge in the court clerk’s office in lieu of appearing before the magistrate. 

As I was going round the bend I was doing 35, and I know my speedometer reads higher than I'm actually going so I could of really been doing 33-34.

Now just got to wait 14 days to find out. Gut feeling says I did get caught though and that means 3 points on my licence and a minimum fine of £100, which I really can't afford right now.

So, you face 12 points on your driving licence after speeding? What now?

This article is brought to you by Kenway Miller Solicitors The UK is fairly generous when it comes to going over the stated speed limit on any of its roads. Drivers are given an allowance of 10% over the limit, plus an extra 2mph for camera calibration errors. So if you’re in a 20mph zone, for example, you’ll be able to do 24mph without landing in hot water – 10% of 20mph plus the extra 2mph.…