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Is a faulty speedometer a valid reason to contest a speeding ticket?
I have just received a NIP for travelling at 36mph in a 30mph zone. The following day I went through the same camera and made sure I was only doing 29mph and was flashed again. It looks like the speedometer in my car is faulty, but only having had the car MOT'd the previous week I presumed that there was no problem with my car and that it was legal to drive. Is the faulty speedo a valid reason to contest the first and possibly the second SP30? If so, what evidence do I need to produce? If I do contest and fail what the likely costs going to be compared to the actual fine?
You don't have a defence (unless the Gatso is not working properly and I know a way to check that if you have the photos) but you may have a special reasons argument in relation to both if you can show that your speedo wasn't working properly with a mechanic's report to that effect.
If you take it to Court and lose the special reasons argument then you will get higher fines and Court costs than you would have got by accepting the fixed penalty.
If you don't contest them you are probably looking at six points on your licence unless there is a speed awareness course in your area which would get rid of three of them.
Have you got any points already? If so, how many? Are you up for a bit of a fight?
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Answered by: Emma Patterson
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