A motorist caught speeding at 64 mph in a 40 mph zone has asked his child to take responsibility for the offence to avoid a driving ban. The father, who already has nine points on his licence, faces losing it if further points are added. However, his request could lead to serious legal consequences for both parties.
Reddit Dilemma
The child took to Reddit to explain the situation: "My dad got caught speeding 64 in a 40. He received a letter asking to identify it was him otherwise it’s a £1K fine and 6 points. My dad is only 3 points for losing his licence. He’s asked me if I could take the hit for him." They expressed concerns about the risks, noting they do not live with their father and are not insured on his car, making it easy for authorities to detect the false claim.
Police Warning
West Mercia Police's Road Safety Team issued a stark warning: "Drivers trying to evade responsibility for their speeding offence by falsely nominating another person could be found guilty of perverting the course of justice. This is a very serious offence which can result in life imprisonment. Being convicted of this would give you a criminal record, which would affect employment opportunities and travel to foreign countries."
The team added that both the driver and the person falsely nominated could be investigated if they act together. They have a dedicated team that investigates all correspondence related to motoring offences, using police and commercial databases to identify false claims.
Online Reactions
Reddit users urged the child not to comply. One comment read: "Don’t do it. It’s a criminal offence that can land you both in prison." Another said: "Someone who does 64 in a 40 with 9 points on their licence will get a driving ban sooner rather than later anyway. Prison sentence to delay the inevitable is not worth it." A third user noted: "64 in a 40 is not a mistake, it's indicative of a dangerous driver. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Losing his licence might remind him of that."
The child ultimately decided against taking the blame, stating it "wasn't worth" the risk.
