How honest are you when it comes to penalty points?
18 Comments | Add Comment | Blog entry posted 30th August, 2007
As a nation we may pride ourselves on “playing by the rules” but it seems that our scruples soon desert us when penalty points are the issue.
A surprising 10% of us have told researchers for Confused.com that we would be willing to ask someone else to take our penalty points for us (either out of the kindness of their hearts or for money) if it meant we could avoid losing our licence or facing a hefty increase in our insurance premium. We may have a job finding a willing partner in crime though, with 96% of us saying that we would not be willing to play ball. 62% of all “points dodgers” would ask their partners whilst 14% would approach a friend. 3% would ask a business colleague but perhaps most surprising is the revelation that 2% would ask their children and 10% a stranger!{poll=28}
The economic cost of penalty points is, of course, likely to be high. Three points are likely to attract a 7% rise in premium, six points a 25% rise and nine points an eye-watering 50%. Add to that the fact that with nine points you may well find it hard to get insurance in the first place and you can see how the murky market for taking someone else’s points has arisen. It can certainly be lucrative (if illegal) business, with drivers willing to pay upwards of £100 per point.
You may well wonder how people can get away with all this in the first place. After all, aren’t speed cameras meant to take a picture of the driver? Unfortunately, it seems that the accuracy of many pictures render the driver unrecognisable, especially if sunlight or shadows have reflected off the windscreen.
The big question is, therefore, would your insurance company ever find out if you simply kept quiet? The answer is a resounding “yes”. As the managing director of Confused.com explains: “Providing false information can invalidate a policy and prevent a claims payout. This could not only see motorists severely out of pocket, but could result in them being listed as fraudulent on the insurance industry’s central fraud database. This could not only affect an individual’s future credit eligibility, but significantly increase insurance premiums and dramatically reduce the number of insurers willing to provide cover.”
The obvious solution to the problem is to drive safely and not to get the points in the first place. If, however, you already have points on your licence, these tips may help you minimise your premium:
- Increase your voluntary excess.
- Shop around before committing to a policy.
- Consider changing your car to one with a lower insurance group.
- Pay the premium in one go rather than in instalments.
- Consider an Accelerator policy whereby you can earn a year’s no-claims bonus in ten months.
Replies to How honest are you when it comes to penalty points?
Mark December 28, 2011
Do they not check if the person who is taking the points for you if they are insured to drive the motor in question
Brian April 23, 2011
The csa are going to take my (clean) licence soon via the courts. I would be happy to make a point first. br1anblow@yahoo.com (Scotland/m8)
Enda Christy September 14, 2010
i live in ireland and have 8 points, just got 4 more through the door, this means a ban, as i drive for a living this is not good.the police pulled me over and gave me points, can these points go on to my girlfriends licence or do i have to take them
Stephie August 16, 2010
I have been passed my test 13 months now and already have 3 points, i fear ive been caught speading again, it was 4 days ago and nothing has come through yet.
But if it does, i'll have another 3 points, then a ban, and i will have to do my test again. My dad has offered to take them, and i am like 'phil' and scared they'll compare the picture with the camera.
Is it safe to risk it? If so what are the conciquences if they figure out the photo's dont match?
John Doe March 4, 2010
@Phil
No, it will get processed in a back office as you do not need to go to court.
Good luck, and be careful.
Phil Roberts February 22, 2010
Could i please ask, I was caught speeding in a 50 mph zone, doing 59mph. I foolishly have 9 points and this will mean a ban, My partner ( female ) has offered to take the points on my behalf.
I need to know, can this be done, If i send the letter back saying who was driving, do they compare the picture of the car to the drivers details. ie Do they check it was a male driving if the form states it was female. ?
Dave February 21, 2010
With regards to reply 11, You can get the points removed and applied to your ex's license but it will mean getting atleast 6 months in prision
When you accepted the points you committed an offence of "Perverting the Course of Justice" this is an inditable only offence and if you tell the court or police that you wasn't the drive you will be charged and find yourself in crown court.
If he paid you to take th points you will get a lot longer than 6 months
Tracy Dunleavey October 22, 2009
my ex partner pleaded with me to take 3 points for speeding which i stupidly did, i even paid the 60quid fine, but at the time i can prove i was anpatient in hospital, can i get them removed and make him take tghem
John Holden May 10, 2008
Just been done for going through a red light. Almost stopped (down to 5mph) then decided as it was clear, to go through, so went for it!! Big mistake!! Cameras on the traffic lights were working. Had to hold my hands up and admit to it. Looks like £60 and 3 points. Suopse that will calm me down for another 3 years.
Izzy Speed Freak April 25, 2008
I have just been done for 83mph in a 60mph and im 21!! tbh i have two crashes on my license.... i fully accept repsonsibility for my actions and at the end of the day i was in a rush, late for work doin a tonne on a expressway but still no excuse, my crashes were when i was 17 and 18..little bumps cos i cudnt drive so its just part of life!
The moral of the story is DONT SPEED. And secondly if someone is willing to take the heat for your actions then do it, but tbh i aint worried that much shiz happens..DEAL with it!
Abracadabra December 4, 2007
I've just been done for it last week. Does anybody want 3 points???
Fred Flintstone November 10, 2007
Whodda thought a well considered, well studied and well thought out government strategy could end up offering a money making opportunity to the crooked and unscrupulous. Until now I hadn't even thought of this, but I can see if someone is about to loose their licence, coughing up a couple or three hundred quid plus the fine to someone who's unemployed or simply doesn't drive anymore because they can't afford petrol because of the absurd petrol duty and willing to take their points could be a good business deal.
You got to hand it to labour, they really do their homework and they're full of great business ideas!
Vive le Speed camera, Vive le government!!
(ps, I'm not sure I'm anygood at being sarcastic in type)
Dick Turpin Highway Robber September 29, 2007
What a fab idea...... keep ur own licence clean & clutter up someone elses haha
I know loads of folk with driving licences that simply can't afford acar but would love a great nite out......i'm gonna keep this in mind just incasebut if there are any takers.....more the merrier LEAVE DETAILS HERE
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone Number:
ps am single too lol
Caron Dyson September 28, 2007
I could never and would never ask anyone to take my points for me no would I for anyone else. This includes my husband (if you're reading), LOL
Eric Hartup September 28, 2007
I am over 70 and have got 3 points on my licence. I have driven in many ciuntries in the world as I was a diplomat. With reference to Margate Bonthrones remark about police hiding behind a tree, I had just completed a police led training on 'defensive driving' when the same happened to me. I was not speeding but, as I had just been taught using instance reflexive action, i drove straight at the policeman making him jump back behind the tree. I then stopped, went back to him and explained why I had tried to take him out. To me it looked like an assaination attempt when he pointed the 'gun' at me. He ended up very red faced and apologising profusly.
Jan Falkiner September 28, 2007
Dishonesty rules? So many people think it's 100% OK to cheat and lie and implicate innocent others concerning some aspect of driving. Not being responsible for their own actions and causing another person (albeit with that person's misjudged agreement) to be implicated in the errant driver's deception is seen by those perpetrators as acceptable behaviour. Being responsible for one's own actions seems to fly out of the window for some people when it comes to driving.
Mrs Margarte Bonthrone September 17, 2007
I could never condone the passing on of speeding points to another person. I have had only three speeding charges in 40+ years, all in the same year, they all were less than 7miles over the limmit, one was only 3miles over the limit(being in my 70's I am not a speed merchant, far from it). Each time the police were hiding behind a tree. I know this is no excuse. My complaint is that 2 are now off my licence and the third will be off at the begining of October (3years) but insurance companies penalise people for 5 years( the last one will penalise me for 5years 11 months). Surely the Insurance companies could work in conjuntion with the D.V.L.A.
John Smythe September 13, 2007
I paid my son to take my points, he's away at uni so he won't be driving much for the next few years.
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