[jasonl]

Be careful guys about using , or in my case HOLDING a mobile phone while driving , I got a 6 month ban this morning , plus £210 fine .  I had 9 points already  so they gave me 3 more for my collection. 

Will have to get a chauffeur now!

[Steve Chapman]

Hi Jason
That's real bummer, you'd think they be more lenient on someone running there own business, at least it's only six months, could be worse,
Might be a good time to employ someone else ?

Hope it don't impact the business too much,

Regards

Steve

[garyj]

Bad luck Jason that sucks, the Law really is an ass.

[Joe H]

Would have been cheaper to buy a hands free unit - only cost about £20

[wynne jones]

Six months does seem very harsh, but I tend to agree with Joe. If I had 9 points on my licence there's no way on earth I'd be risking taking calls without a hands free kit.

My view on use of mobiles is its a load of bollox, yet another easy cop because they can't catch real criminals.

[garyj]

Sarah will be on later, she's been in Winchester Crown Court today with her sister and sisters husband! You'll be spitting feathers when you hear this one!!!

[jasonl]

I was in Fareham Magistrates , the carpets needed cleaning , I would have offered to do them free if they had not banned me ,, they can get stuffed now.

[clinton]

Hope you get sorted jason with a driver mate..good luck and as wynne said its typical easy revenue for the police,i get it on the motorbike :

[JandS]

So it's not really dangerous then???

John

[Sarah Kirby]

Sarah will be on later, she's been in Winchester Crown Court today with her sister and sisters husband! You'll be spitting feathers when you hear this one!!!

Just got back from court......my sister and husband were involved in a head on crash a year ago, both in hospital for weeks, neither back to work yet due to their injuries....the prat was overtaking on a blind bend at speed and got found NOT guilty for dangerous driving, even the judge looked shocked!....he pleaded guilty to careless driving and got off with a 9 month ban and £200 fine.....where's the justice in that? Its absolutely ridiculous that holding a moble while driving carries virtually the same punishment as nearly killing 2 people.....the system is corrupt IMO  

[wynne jones]

To be fair it's not as corrupt as Russia.

Watched something on the box last night and some bloke got 9 years cos his competitor wanted his company off him and they bribed officials to fit him up. Another guy was sodomized with a nightstick when brought in for 'questioning'. Give me British plod any day (they have smaller truncheons).

[colin thomas]

sorry jason but i have no sympathy, i'm sure your a great guy and all the rest but look what's happened to you for the sake of a £25 bluetooth earpiece. i use a jabra and you don't know you are wearing it, phone rings, push a button and your talking. not only when your driving but you can be working while talking on the phone. what's not to like?
it drives me nuts to see motorists trying to steer, change gear etc etc and holding a phone to their ear, i was in the next lane to someone the other day who was texting!!!

people should be banned for 5 years, how would you feel if a member of your family was killed by someone who was using a phone while driving

sorry,  colin

[jasonl]

I was not on the phone!  I have hands free! I was holding my phone not making a call it was in my hand .   I am sure none on here ever commit a driving offence , my OP was to warn that you can get done for holding your phone.

[Paul Heath]

Just found below, interesting that it is an offence to take a call?? What about the Old bill when they speak on there radios, whilst driving ??

It will be an offence whilst driving to use a handheld device to:

Speak or listen to a phone call 

Use a device interactively to access any sort of data – including Internet, text, or other images 

Hold a hands-free phone at any point whilst driving. This also applies to all mobile devices, ie. PDA’s etc. 

The use of a hand held phone, even when stationary eg. in a traffic jam or at the traffic lights will remain an offence.

In addition, the drivers, who use hands-free phones could also face prosecution for failing to have proper control of their vehicle, if their driving is considered to be dangerous or reckless because of distraction.

 

[jasonl]

That is my point Paul , it is an offence to even hold a phone .

Had loads of offers of help/drivers ,  times like this you find out who your real friends are.

[Joe H]

Obvious question Jason.

Why was you holding the phone.
Was it going somewhere?

[jasonl]

I was holding it out of habit , I had been stopped looking at a text then set of with it in my hand.

[Len Gribble]

You can get nicked for holding anything (an apple for example) in your hand whilst in control of a vehicle, it all down to mister plod. Have to say females are the worst offenders there always holding it

[JandS]

Using a 2 way radio whilst driving is not an offence.
That's what police do.

John

[Mike Halliday]

i was close to getting banned 5 yrs ago best thing that happened to me.

it prompted me to think about getting a full time helper, which i did and now i'll never go back to working solo.

what you need now is a chauffeur/leaflet deliverer he drives you to the job then he goes out leafleting, then when you are 20mins from finishing you call him and he makes his way back.

ps; i have 3 points on my licence for the same thing