Speeding Ticket with Errors

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Speeding Ticket with Errors

andrewtrident

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#248512 29-Mar-2019 00:26

Hi out there in Beautiful NZ.

I have just come back to the UK from a magic 7 week holiday Motorcycle touring in New Zealand.

On February 11 I got a speeding ticket. which I have just received in the UK.

When checking the Ticket I found that the drivers License number was in correct to the UK License I presented to the Police Officer when I was apprehended. I asked a NZ lawyer and he said I should pay the ticket as the Police can change details if they are incorrect . However when I iast lived in NZ in the 1980's I got off a speeding Ticket as the ticket had the incorrect make of car on it. When I wrote to the Transport Authority at that time claiming that The make of car did not match the registration number the ticket was cancelled.

I have until the 25/04/19 to pay the current speeding ticket which is $170 for 125 kmh. I did explain to the police officer at the time that I was wearing a legal open face helmet and it was better for my safety to pass cars in front of me so I didn't get sprayed with shingle and road debris by the vehicles in front of me.

Any first hand advise on how to have this speeding ticket quashed would be greatly appreciated

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#2206767 29-Mar-2019 01:45

Just pay the fine. If you dispute it, the NZ Police might just ask the UK Police for your correct licence number. And then you will get sent a ticket with the correct details. But then the UK Police will then know that you received a speeding ticket in NZ, which they might then add to your UK driving record. Which would in turn force you to declare it to your insurance company.

If you don't pay it, After 2 months it will be transferred to the NZ courts for enforcement. And AFAIK the UK courts will enforce orders from the NZ courts.

That incorrect licence number might be a blessing in disguise for you. As it might allow you to pay that fine without any trace of it appearing on your UK driving record.

andrewtrident

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2206768 29-Mar-2019 04:05

Thanks for the replies but no one has given the correct answer you seem to be confused like the NZ Police over my Licence number

jarledb

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#2206769 29-Mar-2019 04:06

andrewtrident: Thanks for the replies but no one has given the correct answer you seem to be confused like the NZ Police over my Licence number

So what do you think is the correct answer?

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andrewtrident

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2206770 29-Mar-2019 04:14

That I write to the Transport Authority and they agree that an error has been made.
I read on another travel forum that I ask the Court to pay my costs if it is found that an error has been made and suddenly the ticket is Canceled

lxsw20

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#2206771 29-Mar-2019 05:13

If you want to waste your time doing that over £85 then good for you. I don't think you'll get any sympathy/support here.

Jase2985

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#2206772 29-Mar-2019 05:32

andrewtrident: That I write to the Transport Authority and they agree that an error has been made.

and they agree and still make you pay the ticket...

just pay up

as for your excuse for speeding, yawn, you could have always just hung back further so you didnt get sprayed

frankv

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#2206781 29-Mar-2019 06:55

Write to NZTA telling them they got your name and address wrong, but the licence number is correct.

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Dial111

978 posts

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#2206782 29-Mar-2019 07:04

No you’re incorrect on this matter, the law was changed to fix this. You’re still liable to pay the fine.

freitasm

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#2206784 29-Mar-2019 07:19

I have removed some replies. The OP asked for an answer, not your judgement.

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#2206803 29-Mar-2019 08:07

I have a friend from the UK who drove his way around Australia on holiday about a decade ago collecting speeding tickets as he went. By the time he left the country, he had amassed enough points and fines to have lost his Australian licence had he actually had one (he was driving on a UK licence). He never paid any of the fines and it had no effect on him back in the UK. Ironically he now lives in Australia and even that has not presented any issues as he now drives on an Australian licence.

By all means write to the Police pointing out the error if you want. Whilst the NZ lawyer may be correct, the police can only change the details if they know what the correct details are, but you are under no obligation to provide those details in your letter. The worst that can happen is they refuse to cancel it.

I am not condoning or advocating speeding or flouting the law. But tickets (or any sort of contract) that contain incorrect details are a pleasure to get out of by way of a well written letter.

tehgerbil

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#2206820 29-Mar-2019 08:36

andrewtrident:

it was better for my safety to pass cars in front of me so I didn't get sprayed with shingle and road debris by the vehicles in front of me.

..Just pointing out the obvious, if there was loose shingle/debris going 125km/h is probably one of the most silly things you can do...

Now, it is is your legal right to dispute the ticket, we can't stop you.

However there are a lot of very smart people in this thread saying disputing the ticket has the potential to make your life harder that it needs to be than versus just paying the ticket.

So in short it won't be a clean getaway to dispute the ticket and you'll get off.

It'll give you a chance to get off the ticket, but it's also highly likely to backfire if these comments are to go by.

Just be wary that if you do dispute your local police may hear about it in one way or another and the associated impact that will come from that.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#2206831 29-Mar-2019 09:09

If the ticket from the 80s was from a speed camera, or a speed trap. Where the Police wrote down your car rego number, and then send the ticket in the mail. Having a non matching vehicle make to the rego number means that they cannot now reliably identify the vehicle. Which is why they would have canceled the ticket.

However in your case, the Police pulled you over and checked your license. The NZ Police now know your correct name and date of birth. And matched the photo on your license to yourself. So there is no dispute that the person who got pulled over is you. And you are not disputing that you were doing 125Km/Hr.

Alot has changed since the 80s. As the Ministry of Transport used to be responsible for road policing back then.

Also, if you want to dispute the ticket, you must do so within 1 month. After that, it is assumed that the offense is not disputed. And it is then solely a failure to pay.

Tickets which are less than 2 months old, and which have not been sent to the courts for a defended hearing. Are handled by the Police infringement Bureau, which is completely separate to the courts. If you want to try and claim costs, you will need to sue the Police in the Civil courts. You will need to budget $50,000 for legal fees to do so.

Listen to the Advice from your NZ lawyer and pay the ticket.

cyril7

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#2206845 29-Mar-2019 09:21

Dial111 has the correct answer, as I recall about 10yrs ago they closed the loop on this one, and more recently my son tried it on for near identical situation, the beak was not ammused and basically said its you and your car, minor paperwork errors by the police are part of life, and not of relevance in my court, pay up.

Cyril

nitro

657 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2206953 29-Mar-2019 12:19

i would just pay the fine and include it among my expenses for a 'magic 7 week holiday'.