• 0800 783 6191
  • mail@whitedalton.co.uk
  • Request a Callback
  • About
  • The Team
  • News & Blog
White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors Logo White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors Logo
  • Start a claim
  • Change to us
  • Testimonials
  • FAQs
    • Case Law
    • Compensation
    • Consumer Law
    • Cycle Accidents
    • How we work
    • Injuries
    • Offence guides
    • Personal Injury Trust
    • Solicitors Costs
    • Solicitors Negligence Claim
    • Who is to blame
  • Blog
    • Magazine Articles
    • 44Teeth Videos
    • Team Blogs
    • Winning Number
  • Contact Us
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Courting Disaster

Courting Disaster

Courting Disaster

You’ve been pulled. The copper is glaring at you and you’ve got that sick feeling in your stomach. But fear not. There are always ways and means to turn points into pardons. Sometimes. SuperBike finds out when

You’ve been pulled over. Don’t panic. Maybe you’re angry, maybe you’re upset, probably nervous too, or a mix of all three. But whatever you do, don’t panic. Yet.

The way you react immediately after a tug can get you off the hook. Be friendly and courteous. Get off the bike, take your helmet off and read the situation.

It’s always good to know what they’ve tugged you for. It may not be for speed – it may be because he’s spotted something hanging from your bike and is doing you a favour, so don’t go on the offensive.

Whatever the pull is for, respond to what he says. The opening gambit is normally 'What speed were you doing?' or 'Do you know what I’m stopping you for, sir?' These are standard questions, so don’t incriminate yourself by saying you were doing 45mph in a 30 zone. He has to prove that you were speeding, so simply ask him what he thinks you were doing wrong.

Gary Dickson is a traffic cop and he says it’s always best if you stay calm and collected after you’ve been stopped. He says: "One time we stopped a bike because he had a sidestand that was wagging around and we simply wanted to stop him and let him know. He got off the bike apologising for doing a ton earlier on up the road. We hadn’t even seen him. Just ask why we’ve stopped you and be courteous. Don’t offer more information than we ask for."

Don’t panic, yet

Are you still not panicking? Good. Check out his motor discretely. Is he a traffic cop on a mission with some form of speed detection device in it? Or have you been unlucky and randomly been pulled by a panda car back from the doughnut shop? If he’s a beat-bobby, he’ll have an uncalibrated speedo like you or I, if he’s got the latest speeding kit installed, ask him when it was last calibrated.

If you think that sweet-talking isn’t going to get you out of the hole you’ve made for yourself, now’s the time to start taking things seriously. Make sure you have a notebook and pen under your seat-hump or jacket. Be pleasant rather than sanctimonious, but inform the officers that you’d like to keep an accurate and contemporaneous note of proceedings, in case things go further.

If things move on, you’ll be told what you’re being done for and either be given a fixed-penalty notice (FPN) or summonsed to court. If it’s an obvious FPN, then you can choose to simply pay it and learn your lesson. You may be offered enrolment at a ‘speeding school’, where local authorities try and ‘educate’ people as to the perils of excessive speed. This normally costs a few quid more than the fine, but your attendance means you don’t get any points added to your license.

If things are a little more dubious and you’re feeling feisty after being offered a fixed penalty notice and points, then think very carefully.

Motor Defence Team, the motoring prosecutions side of White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors has a fantastic success rate at getting prosecutions dropped. Unsurprisingly, they are trying to keep a low profile as they have already upset all of the ‘Speed Camera Partnerships’ in the land but Andrew Dalton says, "The Camera Partnerships are set up so you get the fine and Fixed Penalty and you just take it, but behind this prosecution there are a number of defences and we are often horrified to see the way that there is a presumption of guilt and frightened motorists just accept points when they have absolutely solid defences." MDT operate a scheme for you to speak directly to one of their specialist barristers for a fixed fee, so you know whether sticking your hands up is a good plan and their highest success rates are for bikers.

If you’re looking at a summons then it’s a wait to see if they’re going to proceed, which generally happens before six-months has elapsed.

Defending yourself?

You think throwing a wig on makes you Judge fucking Judy? Forget it. Lawyers are trained to pick holes in the reasoning of much better prepared arguments than yours. So leave it to the pros, it’s their job

COPS & NOBBERS PART II - Courting Disaster
Superbike Magazine - November 2006
By: Bertie Simmonds

Disclaimer: This article is reproduced from Superbike Magazine - It's views do not represent White Dalton's

Disclaimer: The legal advice and statements contained within this/these articles is correct at the time of printing. If you are seeking legal advice after a motorbike accident please contact us to speak directly with one of our lawyers.

Stay up to date

Get all the latest motorcycling articles and legal news straight to your inbox. Sign up to our weekly email newsletter below

Privacy Policy

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
  • Request a Callback

    Complete the form below and one of our team will call you back. Alternatively call us on 0800 783 6191 to speak to a member of our team. Office hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Magazine Articles

  • 44Teeth Videos
  • Adventure Bike Rider
  • Bike Magazine
  • Fast Bikes Magazine
  • More Bikes
  • Motorcycle Monthly
  • Motorcycle News
  • On 2 Wheels
  • RiDE Magazine
  • Superbike Magazine

Team Blogs

  • Andrew Dalton
  • Andrew Prendergast
  • Gavin Grewal
  • Martyn Dey

Other Categories

  • Kit Reviews
  • Prize Draw
  • Shows
  • Winning Number

Related Posts

If he had a blow-out and then knocked me off, can I claim?

If he had a blow-out and then knocked me off, can I claim?

I was involved in a side swipe on the motorway. I was in lane two, my speed set by cruise…
GB Stickers & Brexit

GB Stickers & Brexit

Do you need to replace the GB sticker on your bike with one that says 'UK' the next time you…
Is pushing a motorcycle in a pedestrian area an offence?

Is pushing a motorcycle in a pedestrian area an offence?

I have been ticketed for getting off my motorcycle and pushing it through a pedestrianised area. I have appealed the…
Collision Course

Collision Course

When bikes hit tractors, the former very rarely wins. Choose your road positioning carefully. I was riding home from work,…
SMIDSY: it’s evolution not ignorance

SMIDSY: it’s evolution not ignorance

If you are lucky you will not have had that heart stopping moment when a car moves into your path…
Do I have to pay for a hire bike I didn’t even want?

Do I have to pay for a hire bike I didn’t even want?

I was knocked off my bike at a roundabout, whilst stationary in the summer of 2019. The driver of the…
What the ‘new’ Highway Code means to us…

What the ‘new’ Highway Code means to us…

People have worked themselves up into a state of self-righteous fury about the new rights accorded to, in particular cyclists.…
Mud Slide

Mud Slide

What legal recourse do you have if you injure yourself, or damage your bike, after sliding on mud left in…

Contact Us

Call us on 0800 783 6191 to speak in to a member of our team, complete our contact form or email us on mail@whitedalton.co.uk and we'll call you back. Office hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Client Feedback

White Dalton have handled 1000's of motorcycle accident cases over the years. Here is some feedback from some of our recent clients...

Professional, prompt & friendly

Professional, prompt & friendly. By dealing with one person for the duration of the case, with the full details at their disposal, it made the whole process Read more...

GH

Very Pleased

I was overall very pleased with the way my case was handled

SG

Quick, easy

Great service and friendly guys, plus helpful

Ian

Regulation & Accreditation

  • APIL
  • Legal 500
  • Chambers & Partners

Contact Us

Call us to speak in to a member of our team. Or fill out our contact form and we'll ring you back. 0800 783 6191

0800 783 6191

Our phone lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

We Ride, We Know...

White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors are Britain’s most specialist motorbike accident compensation claims solicitors, dealing with all legal aspects of motorcycle accident compensation claims.

Every one of our motorbike solicitors rides and we have total motorbike experience. We have years of experience in successfully gaining compensation for motorcyclists injured on the road.

White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors, Red Line Chambers, Leighton Road, Wingrave, Aylesbury, HP22 4PA
Phone: 0800 783 6191
Email: mail@whitedalton.co.uk
Fax: 01296 34 3000

Real Lawyers

  • Meet the Team
  • About Us
  • Regulatory Information
  • FAQs
  • Testimonials

Real Bikers

  • In the Press
  • Motorcycle Shows
  • Prize Draw
  • Motorbike Blog
  • 44Teeth Videos

Real Answers

Our clients rate us: 4.95 out of 5 based on 999 reviews

© 2022 White Dalton Solicitors is authorised & regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority registration no: 60386
Privacy Policy / Glossary / Nationwide Motorcycle Accident Claims Solicitors / Cycle Accident Claims / E-Scooter Law / E-Bike Law
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy
Accept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT