been pulled over, Need some advice :(

[Gaz]

Today I was pulled over by the police and receved a Ticket for a traffic offence.

The code reads : RT88520
'Dangerous condition - likley to cause danger or injury in the manner of passengers being carried or number of passengers being carried - Endorsable '

I explained the reason why, but I didn't argue the point and I just acepted what he said to me..

But I'm wondering if I have any leg to stand on , as I feel the possiblity of 3 points on my licence to be a little unfair given the circumstances.

What happened was, last couple weeks I've been delivering flowers for my girlfriends dad who owns a florest, to help out during this busy period. But a couple days ago my girlfriend put the wrong post code in the sat nav ( p instead of a d) and we ended up at an address where the sat nav took us down a dirt track with deep ruts and large deep muddy puddles.. And the guy told us people are always being sent the wrong way.

I wouldnt even call it a road, its something more resemballing an off road coarse.

But, after entering the large puddle at the bottom I decided it was too deep and tried to back up, but the under tray caught on something in the water and pushed the bumper off.

I tried to fix it back on, but it was still too loose at the front so I felt it was safer to leave it off till I have a free day and some daylight to have a propper look at it..

But I've been delivering every morning without a brake, and it's been too dark at night to do anything about it.. and i've needed to keep using the car.

And so today, I got got pulled over and am now facing 3 point's on my licence.

There was absolutly no damage to the car, other than the missing bumper.. and is otherwise in a roadworthy condition. and IMHO just 'looks' a lot worse than it is.

Do I have a case? or do I just except what's happened and move on?

[Hanuman]

As ever, car make and model, and photos go a long way towards filling in the blanks.

And sadly, the old adage- no good deed goes unpunished

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by The Real MSH!

As ever, car make and model, and photos go a long way towards filling in the blanks.

And sadly, the old adage- no good deed goes unpunished

its my Audi A6 C4 Avant quattro TDi.. I've now put the bumper back on again,.. but tbh.. the thought of it falling off while driving is far more dangerous than the idea of someone maybe 'bruising' there leg on my car because they don't bother to look where they are walking.

but,.. as stated.. i can see it would be worse if i were to hit somebody.

[Pc7540]

Hi Gaz,

With the bumper off I assume it exposed some metal brackets or other protrusions usually covered by the bumper? If this is the case the point being made is that if you were in collision with a pedestrian etc then the injury would be more severe because of the "dangerous parts" ! It could even be taken that a pedestrian may walk past your vehicle and injure themselves on the protrusions!

Alas, I feel that fighting this would be fruitless and, of course, following a failed challenge, the punishment is increased!

Your mitigating circumstances would not help I fear!

Sorry, Clive

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by Pc7540

Hi Gaz,

With the bumper off I assume it exposed some metal brackets or other protrusions usually covered by the bumper? If this is the case the point being made is that if you were in collision with a pedestrian etc then the injury would be more severe because of the "dangerous parts" ! It could even be taken that a pedestrian may walk past your vehicle and injure themselves on the protrusions!

Alas, I feel that fighting this would be fruitless and, of course, following a failed challenge, the punishment is increased!

Your mitigating circumstances would not help I fear!

Sorry, Clive

Fair enough.. although I still think that in a lot of cases a verbal warning to not use the vehical till it is repaired would have sufficed.

I will try to secure the bumper sufficiently tomorrow, but if I dont think its safe I will just have to use my Coupe quattro and only take a few small deliverys. Problem is, its such a gas gussler .

[moonwatcher]

Originally Posted by Gaz

Today I was pulled over by the police and receved a Ticket for a traffic offence.

The code reads : RT88520
'Dangerous condition - likley to cause danger or injury in the manner of passengers being carried or number of passengers being carried - Endorsable '

I explained the reason why, but I didn't argue the point and I just acepted what he said to me..

But I'm wondering if I have any leg to stand on , as I feel the possiblity of 3 points on my licence to be a little unfair given the circumstances.

What happened was, last couple weeks I've been delivering flowers for my girlfriends dad who owns a florest, to help out during this busy period. But a couple days ago my girlfriend put the wrong post code in the sat nav ( p instead of a d) and we ended up at an address where the sat nav took us down a dirt track with deep ruts and large deep muddy puddles.. And the guy told us people are always being sent the wrong way.

I wouldnt even call it a road, its something more resemballing an off road coarse.

But, after entering the large puddle at the bottom I decided it was too deep and tried to back up, but the under tray caught on something in the water and pushed the bumper off.

I tried to fix it back on, but it was still too loose at the front so I felt it was safer to leave it off till I have a free day and some daylight to have a propper look at it..

But I've been delivering every morning without a brake, and it's been too dark at night to do anything about it.. and i've needed to keep using the car.

And so today, I got got pulled over and am now facing 3 point's on my licence.

There was absolutly no damage to the car, other than the missing bumper.. and is otherwise in a roadworthy condition. and IMHO just 'looks' a lot worse than it is.

Do I have a case? or do I just except what's happened and move on?

If your vehicle is rendered illegal due to an accident/incident then it's possible to argue the case and avoid prosecution.
for example if you are rear ended and your exhaust is ripped off then that is acceptable, but it can't be a week after the event, it really helps if it "happened" on the return journey, but you would need legal representation to win.

[audizzz]

Sorry to hear about the incident, but unfortunately without your bumper the car could be certified as unroadworthy (it would fail an mot without a bumper). It is therefore deemed a hazard to pedestrians as stated above.

I woould gracefully accept the points and affix said bumper (even if zip tied firmly) until suitable repairs can be carried out. At least they didn't fine you as well.

Also worth noting that it may have the incident added to police data banks and your number plate may ping a warning to local traffic officers who out of boredom feel they need to check your cars condition and compliance with repairs.

Good luck with the outcome

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by audizzz

Sorry to hear about the incident, but unfortunately without your bumper the car could be certified as unroadworthy (it would fail an mot without a bumper). It is therefore deemed a hazard to pedestrians as stated above.

I woould gracefully accept the points and affix said bumper (even if zip tied firmly) until suitable repairs can be carried out. At least they didn't fine you as well.

Also worth noting that it may have the incident added to police data banks and your number plate may ping a warning to local traffic officers who out of boredom feel they need to check your cars condition and compliance with repairs.

Good luck with the outcome

well... i dont know if they are going to fine me or what? ... Having never been in this situation before and haveing a previously clean licence. is it a fixed fee of £60? and 3 points? or is the fine and points up to there discretion?

[Steve]

I once drove my UR back from the bodyshop minus the bumpers. It was only 2 miles from where I live.

I had all my documents with me and I got 3 points and a fine.

It still upsets me now thinking about it. It was such a big deal that they let me drive home after telling me how dangerous it was!!!

[Hanuman]

The only bit that doesn't correlate is the description, which references passengers, rather than pedestrians. If you are a member of a motoring organisation, you'd be best advised to get their input. And be candid. The problem, once again, with a public forum is that you may get as many prejudiced views on what is right subject to others morals, as there are members, while also being written in the public domain.
At least lawyers/solicitors views are tempered by actual knowledge of the law.