102mph biker escapes ban
20-year-old apprentice avoids losing his licence after pleading with magistrates over speeding offence
A MOTORCYCLIST caught riding at more than double the posted speed limit has escaped a driving ban.
High Peak Magistrates' Court heard Kai Thomas Burkitt, 20, hit a maximum speed of 102mph along a stretch of July 20 this year.
Prosecutor Jennifer Fitzgerald said: "At around 11am, the police officer saw the defendant riding a Kawasaki 600 bike. Using a laser device, he recorded his speed at 102mph."
Pleading guilty to speeding, Burkitt said: "I admit I was doing 102mph. I didn't know I was going that fast until the officer told me. This offence was totally out of character. I have since sold the motorbike and want nothing more to do with it."
Burkitt asked the court not to disqualify him, saying needed his car to commute to work, where he is an apprentice engineer for BAE Systems. He was fined £210 and ordered to pay £35 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He also got slapped with six penalty points on his licence.
Discuss this story
I got caught doing 103 in my car, sent to court and wrote a very nice letter etc. Got 6 points and 235 fine... Seems pretty normal then for this guy...
Posted: 31/10/2008 at 11:19
I love how they always 'sell the bike' after getting caught. When is someone gonna stand up and say i'm guilty, i was speeding cos i liked it and as soon as i can i'll probably do it again.
Posted: 31/10/2008 at 12:41
I love how they always 'sell the bike' after getting caught. When is someone gonna stand up and say i'm guilty, i was speeding cos i liked it and as soon as i can i'll probably do it again.
 made me laugh, cause its true. Wouldnt do you any favours though i dont think.
me and a mate were stupid enough to get caught doing well over a ton in a national, fortunately got pulled over by 2 of the nicest coppers you are ever likely to meet. To be fair i'm not much of a speed freak and havent done it since, but thats probably more down to the fact that the chances of getting pulled by another 2 like that are slim to none. Just got a slap on the wrist and, as they pulled off the one just turned and said dont let your mate beat you again.
Posted: 31/10/2008 at 13:47
Poor obs and not trying hard enough. My mate used to hit 150mph regulary, it's not the speed he'd say, it's time and the place that's important...i'd tend to agree.
Posted: 31/10/2008 at 13:51
"victim surcharge" WTF  .
Posted: 31/10/2008 at 13:52
Poor obs and not trying hard enough. My mate used to hit 150mph regulary, it's not the speed he'd say, it's time and the place that's important...i'd tend to agree.
I got caught with a mate by an unmarked car on the M20, doing a ton plus over an 11 mile stretch..... The police were really polite & understanding. We didn't make any excuses, ate serious humble pie. We were let off with a caution.
Posted: 04/11/2008 at 18:42
I had quite the opposite experience of traffic policing recently. I got pulled over by a cop on the motorway, doing about 90mph. He's accused me of doing 110mph, so I'll get a ban. The really annoying thing is that he has no evidence - no video, no VASCAR, no radar, nothing. That means that I have no evidence in my defence - if there was video I could prove I wasn't doing over a ton and avoid a ban (even though I'd still get points and a fine). Basically, it's going to come down to his word against mine and who is a magistrate going to believe - a police officer, who would never lie or make a mistake, or a baby-eating, granny-raping, scumbag biker? What particularly galled me was that he said to me "when you get your licence back, I suggest you get a car". If only I'd been wearing a wire
Posted: 16/12/2008 at 22:51
Get a specialist solicitor - Nick Freeman maybe - he represented a mate of mine a few months ago - I think he got off a lot lighter than if he wasn't represented .
Posted: 16/12/2008 at 23:06
"victim surcharge" WTF .
Its like VAT.. an additional tax on the revenue..gov't way of making sure they get a cut even when cases go to court ( no sign that any vicitims ever get to see any of it, and little sign of it being applied to non motoring offences where there actually are some victims)
Posted: 16/12/2008 at 23:07
Get a specialist solicitor - Nick Freeman maybe - he represented a mate of mine a few months ago - I think he got off a lot lighter than if he wasn't represented .
Cheaper to take the hit and hire a chauffeur for 28 days
Posted: 16/12/2008 at 23:08
"Cheaper to take the hit and hire a chauffeur for 28 days" Six months to two years - I have six points from an offence two years ago when I actually was doing over a ton on the M11 (100.8 mph, by vascar), so if I'm convicted on this bastard's say so that'll give me a totting up ban. Hard to believe that one copper's uncorroborated statement is sufficient "evidence" to take away someone's liberty. I don't remember moving to communist China.
Posted: 17/12/2008 at 11:09
If he didn`t have radar equipment etc , is it not the case that there has to be 2 officers in the car. Meaning that the court can not go on the word of 1 officer alone. Maybe wrong , but sure I have heard that in the past
Posted: 17/12/2008 at 11:17
"Cheaper to take the hit and hire a chauffeur for 28 days" Six months to two years - I have six points from an offence two years ago when I actually was doing over a ton on the M11 (100.8 mph, by vascar), so if I'm convicted on this bastard's say so that'll give me a totting up ban. Hard to believe that one copper's uncorroborated statement is sufficient "evidence" to take away someone's liberty. I don't remember moving to communist China.
It isn't but I am sure you wil find that a calibrated speedo is legal corroboration
Posted: 17/12/2008 at 13:11
Yeah, even though (a) there's no record of what speed the speedo showed, like a tachygraph or whatever they're called, and (b) the speedo only shows what speed the cop car was going, not my speed. There have been documented cases where video has shown that the follow check was not done properly, meaning that the cop speedo read much higher than the actual speed of the pursued vehicle. With no evidence, I can't even prove that.
Posted: 17/12/2008 at 23:15
Yeah, even though (a) there's no record of what speed the speedo showed, like a tachygraph or whatever they're called, and (b) the speedo only shows what speed the cop car was going, not my speed. There have been documented cases where video has shown that the follow check was not done properly, meaning that the cop speedo read much higher than the actual speed of the pursued vehicle. With no evidence, I can't even prove that.
It has been so for many years ( long established practice and well capable of detecting speed above the legal limit), long since before you started riding/driving.. if you dont like the rules you can always stop using the roads..that way there will never be a risk of you being incorrectly prosecuted for speeding..
PS I would be surprised if the allegation/ summons shows an actual speed.. calibrated speedo checks are usually offered within a range ..eg between 90 and 110 ie no less than 90 and no more than 110.. the court will punish on the lowest speed.
Posted: 18/12/2008 at 10:05
The cops speedo must be calibated EVERY DAY before he starts his shift same goes for speed guns etc.
Thats a common procedure/policy and not a legal requirement..same as its only policy to prosecute using only calibrated speedos when in fact its perfectly legal to use any form of checking device,so long as a court is convinced of the quality of the evidence offered,.,eg non calibrated sopeedo used for a check doing 80 in a 30would almost certainly be acceptable to a court due to the huge differential ..
aside from the above it is perfectly acceptable to calibrate a speedo after a speed check and not necessarily before the start of a shift...dont believe everything that peppipoo tells you...
Posted: 03/01/2011 at 16:50
Going back a long time, many years, I remember being pulled by the Law as I was coming into Leeds. He gave me choices of what I wanted to be done for... "85 in a 70, 85 in a 60, 65 in a 40 or Twatting it a bit round that sliproad " in the ende he let me go with no charges but it made me think a bit in future!
Posted: 16/01/2011 at 21:45
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