Thread: How bad is it?

Guys I am new poster and I would really appreciate the help.

I was driving on my scooter to get my hair cut. I have a BMW C1 which has a window and on it was my sat nav. Halfway through the journey it fell off and broke.

Now I panicked as I was late and I didn't know the way to the appointment. I drove in the general direction I thought was correct and got there on time. Great!

But. To do this I drove all the way down Oxford Street (London) and on the way back (in the same direction) a police officer stopped me and asked how I got on the road in the first place. Literally I had no idea and had seen no signs warning me I was on such a road. I was in such a rush that I didn't stop to think about where I was and I was also very lost!

I am not trying to "get out" of anything. I just want to know how bad it's potentially going to be. He was talking about 9-12 points and £250+ at least in fines.

Does anyone have any information or know anywhere I can coborrate this?

Thank you so much.

Sorry but you are a bit vaque unless you ran over the policeman or you missed something out from the story you are unlikely to get any points. The chance is you may get a pcn or two from the Council for being in a bus lane or ignoring a traffic sign with a fine of £60/120 each.

There is dirty great big Car/Motorcycle Prohibited sign at each end of the street (and have been for the last 10 years, possibly longer). At off-peak hours the signs change to lift this restriction - but Oxford Street itself has always been a no-go for me unless it is a Sunday....

Originally Posted by buzby

There is dirty great big Car/Motorcycle Prohibited sign at each end of the street (and have been for the last 10 years, possibly longer). At off-peak hours the signs change to lift this restriction - but Oxford Street itself has always been a no-go for me unless it is a Sunday....

Even if the OP missed a sign like this, 9 to 12 points sounds a bit OTT for such an offence. The 12 alone would be an automatic ban, and even the 9 points could be so easily be on top of an existing number of points since the government have managed to turn most of the population into car offence crinimals.

Just because a policeman says 'X' points, usually is hyperbole - they want to wipe the smile from your face. He probably noticed the outward and inward journey and double the points. As no ticket was issued - as it should have been, I think it was just a 'tech this guy a lesson' exploit. (Hopefully!).

I think he didn't give me a ticket because the cameras "had got me".

Thank you for all your advice and knowledgable words. The reason I didn't realise that Oxford St was a no go is that I am not a Londoner in any sense of the word and, a reason not an excuse, I was panicking on the busy London roads, lost, and I just turned in the direction I knew.

He said there'll be points because of a crossroad I went over but I don't know exactly what he meant. Hopefully he was trying to teach me a lesson because it bloody worked. I was so nervous of going in bus lanes I was allowed to on the way back!

Anyone else got any experience or advice on what's likely here? My girlfriend and housemate have been trying to keep me cheery all night.

mull,theres loads a signs around oxford street,that cop was prob just winding ya up,I had one like that 10 years ago when I did what you did!!hopefully ya learnt ya lesson and wont hear no more,if ya were hed be pulling the book out at ya there and then,he prob knew you was just lost,oxford street is for taxis and buses mainly,but I came through there few times on my bike

It's been a while since I've been there - but you have a C1.... yes? All the cameras in that area are front facing, so if he's 'leaving it to the cameras' unless you added an additional numberplate, they're not going to have a decent picture of your plate.

I still think he was being a smart-arse, Just keep your fingers crossed - even without the ticket it's an expensive visit, what with losing your GPS...

You guys have made me feel a lot better. I sought advice from a set of lawyers who think more 9 points is unrealistic and in fact 5/6 would be the "worst case scenario". They think 3 points and a £60 fine as they said there's no reason it should should be counted as a series of offences.

I'm braced for the worst case scenario but I know what I should be looking at and that's what I wanted.