Advice needed! Seatbelt fine whilst wearing a seatbelt.

[TamboB8]

Looking for some advice,

Was out in the car with my sister today and the Traffic Cops pulled us over before id even gt out of second gear.

Went straight to the passenger window and said my sister had no seatbelt on when I'd pulled away from the house.

I 100% know she did have it on, as she'd been in the car for a few minutes whilst i was locking up and I asked and made sure she had her seatbelt on before driving off.

The coppers were having none of it though. As bas as some cops can be, i must say these 2 def don't like Mondays.

Extremely rude and unprofessional.

Now, both me and my sister know she did have her seatbelt on, but they just laughed it off and pretty much said "prove it" - £100 fine.

With it being our word against pc plod, would anyone bother fighting it?

I'm one for holding my hands up if im caught doing something and i'm in the wrong, (like when i was done for going 33 as i entered a 30 from a 50), but we both had our seatbelts on !!

Anyone had the same situation? Unfortunately taking it on the chin and paying the £100 seems the best option

Cheers!

[gdallas]

i thought the individual was responsible for putting on belt if they were adults, and hence any fine? if it were me, and i was 100% sure, id fight it.

[Steve Hut]

Try Forrest Williams Solicitors and ask to speak to Katie.

They are really good and will give you good advice. Think they still give 30 minutes free legal advice.

[DSG4ME]

Two cops,

Two accused,

Even stevens in court,

Let them take it to the sarge who will see the cost's ve result, and with two witnesses you are in the driving seat,

<REMOVED SWEARING>, these type of cops give the good cops a bad name, petty jobbiesworth should really be traffic wardens.

[JimC64]

If it were me, I'd fight it out of bloody mindedness.

I hate injustice

I had a private run in with a cop many years ago and told him to go and procreate with spiders, waited for a comeback but there was none.
Around 6 months or more later I was pulled in Newcastle for a motoring offence ( dodgy plates ) and got a rectification order, to be completed in 7 days. I was home the next day and got the plates changed and the verification to prove it and visited the local constabulary.

Guess who was on the desk??
To be fair not a jot of recognition, I even thought perhaps he didn't recognise me ( some chance...lol )

Around 2 weeks later I received a summons to go to court for non compliance ( clearly he had binned the evidence!! )

Anyhow I fought it, got a letter from the garage that made the plates and fitted them and after some phone calls, emails abd a lot of hassle eventually got away with it.

Just goes to show that some of these guys have long memorys and can abuse power..........They're not all the same by any means, but like in all walks of life, there are good ones and bad ones.

Fight it

[ChA6dders]

If your sister is innocent and had her seatbelt on then opt for it to be heard at the magistrates court that's your right. It will be your sister giving evidence not you although you may be called as a witness by the defence or your sister if she chooses to represent herself.

[man le-mans]

Does your A6 have the seatbelt warning on the dash. Because altho it doesn't stop you driving but it does let you know if the belts are on. As far as the coppers go I would guess I would fight them but be willing to pay if you do lose as it's two against two and they may well take the coppers side first.

[Cockney Boy]

One question. Was the police car video equipped? If it was then there might be evidence to prove it either way. If the police officer was intimidating or used a single swear word then take it to court. But (and he knows this) it will cost you considerably more than £100

If your an upstanding citizen with no criminal record. Never had any points or parking tickets then you might have a 20% chance of winning but it's rare for a judge to favour the public unless you or they have audio or video evidence.

[TamboB8]

Cheers for all the replies, been working 12 hour shifts all week so not had time to get on the forum.

It wasnt in the Audi, Citroen Berlingo Van! Still beeps like crazy if someone doesnt have their seatbelt on though.

They didnt have any video evidence as they were out the car when they supposedly seen us.

Taking it to court or appealing will, no doubt, just end up in a higher spend. However, she's still deciding on what to do.

I'll let you know how we get on if she fights it !!

[zollaf]

so if it beeps if someone is sat in the passenger seat and not wearing a belt, did the officer hear this beeping ? i would then invite the judge outside to hear this beeping for himself, providing the officer says he didn't hear it. i was accused once of not wearing a seatbelt, in a friends mk1 escort. i looked at the copper and just said 'seriously, would you be in this without a seatbelt on ? '