Trailer brakeaway cable not attached... 3 points and £100 fine

[Sciadopitys]

Got stopped by the old bill today, and to my amazement he said the brake away cable on my chipper was not attached. And sure enough, it wasn't! I am usually very strict and check the cable, the number plate matches the vehicle and the lights and working. Dunno how it happened, but anyway, I failed to clip the break away cable on!

 

He gave me a ticket, and said I will get three points and £100 fine! His exact wording on the ticket says "defective trailer brakes" which is not strictly true! The brakes were fine!

 

Is it worth going to court to argue the point, or do I just pay up and take thE points like a man?!

 

Please share your thoughts!!

 

Cheers,

 

Ed

[Spoons]

That's crazy. He was clearly having a bad day and wanted to make people pay for it. If it says on the ticket defective trailer brakes and nothing about the breakaway cable and you can prove that the brakes work and nothing has been touched then surely you can argue it. He should have just given you a warning/letting you know. Watching these Police Interceptor programmes, they let people off for doing 20mph over limits and causing abuse. Clearly good and being fair to everyone......

[Marc Lewis]

That is harsh.

 

Probably more effort than its worth. What a bleedin jobsworth though

[Ian C]

Harsh and the copper was a knob but it ain't worth going to court as you will lose and then have too pay costs, forget it And move on.

[john p]

Got stopped by the old bill today, and to my amazement he said the brake away cable on my chipper was not attached. And sure enough, it wasn't! I am usually very strict and check the cable, the number plate matches the vehicle and the lights and working. Dunno how it happened, but anyway, I failed to clip the break away cable on!

 

 

 

He gave me a ticket, and said I will get three points and £100 fine! His exact wording on the ticket says "defective trailer brakes" which is not strictly true! The brakes were fine!

 

 

 

Is it worth going to court to argue the point, or do I just pay up and take thE points like a man?!

 

 

 

Please share your thoughts!!

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Ed

 

 

I suppose his point is as the breakaway cable is designed to operate the handbrake in case of trailer coming off the hitch, if it ain't attached it can't work , therefore defective, harsh though!

[Sciadopitys]

I thought it was bloody harsh too! It has to be the first time I've ever not clipped it on, and I have no idea why I didn't. Damn unlucky he saw it as well....

I've had a squeaky clean licence for 15 years, so it's annoyed me A LOT!!

[Mountain man]

Wow I can understand your annoyance.

 

mines been snapped on my ifor Williams for over a decade, I really must sort that out.

[eggsarascal]

I thought it was bloody harsh too! It has to be the first time I've ever not clipped it on, and I have no idea why I didn't. Damn unlucky he saw it as well....

I've had a squeaky clean licence for 15 years, so it's annoyed me A LOT!!

 

Harsh indeed. Was this the "run of the mill" copper or a traffic copper?

[Sciadopitys]

Traffic copper in an unmarked car!

[Sciadopitys]

No part of the vehicle or chipper were "defective" so how can I get three points for having defective brakes???