I challenged one in 2004 and asked for photographic evidence.
I received 5 sheets of A4 back, the first with a picture of my car from a distance, the second closer still etc etc, the fifth and final one was a full A4 picture of my head behind the steering wheel. Needless to say I didnt challenge that one

 

Unlucky - go along and plead your case, let us know how much your ass hurts after

 

The photos arent clear these days as they print off stills from the video, but i'm not denying I was driving at the time of the offence and have filled out the driver details etc. The sign for 30mph was obstructed by a branch and I have the pictures of it, and then of the tree after it was cut back once they received my letter/pictures! So i'm tempted to fight it been as i only need for their to be an element of doubt in the mind of the judge that they had not checked the signs were clearly visible on that day...

 

In a lot of cases I would say take the penalty and shut up - you were speeding after all. However if the sign was obstructed and the change in speed limit not visibly and you have photos of this then I would challenge it.

Couple of years ago we had a driver challenge how far the van was from the initial camera sign and he won that. We also had a number of tickets 'disappear' although the Police wrote and told us that they couldn't tell us why but just to accept that our drivers were being let off - turned out they were on the Humber Bridge Board Authority Road and not a public highway and whether it was because they hadn't asked permission or whatever the tickets didn't stand - quite a few hundred got let off that day according to the paper

 

as far as I'm concerned, then if 'they' have not fully complied with the regs, then I'd challenge it

even if doing 120mph in a 30mph

to the op:

good luck, whatever you decide to do

have you got legal cover?

 

Spoke with my mates dad who is a solicitor and he is going to advise me exactly what to say in court. I am going to plead mitigating circumstances and I have evidence to back this up. Its not the crime of the century so even if i dont win its not like I will end up much worse off other than covering the court costs (max

 

I ended up in court a while back doing a ton on the M5 in Devon in my old Pug.
It was nothing like I see on LA Law.

It was like standing in the front of a classroom or conference room with 3 45 year old female judges or JPs or whatever at the other end behind a desk and another person taking notes.

My mate, also a soliciter, just told me to tell the truth, don't be a knob and don't try and bullshit as they can see it a mile off.
The 5 others in the waiting room were wearing a combination of jeans, baseball hats and bling - I wore a suit and tie.
They asked me why I was speeding, I just said the road was clear and I just found myself driving too fast.
No particlar rush to get anywhere, no pregnant wife to get to, but just no traffic in front to slow me down.

They smiled and nodded and gave me a 1 week ban, 0 points and a

 

[QUOTE=JimUK,Sep 23 2009, 11:24 AM] Spoke with my mates dad who is a solicitor and he is going to advise me exactly what to say in court. I am going to plead mitigating circumstances and I have evidence to back this up. Its not the crime of the century so even if i dont win its not like I will end up much worse off other than covering the court costs (max

 

The fact that the speed limit sign was obscured - especially as it's a 30 limit - could well be no defence at all.

They will point to things like the white lines in the middle of the road and the distance between the street lights. This, in particular, is an indicator of a 30 limit.

I got caught in Scotland many years ago doing 36 in a 30 - thinking it was a 40 and this is how they got me. Despite the fact that it was a dual carriage way with a pedestrian foot bridge and motorway-style central reservation and crash barriers.

 

If they agree the sign was obscured and find you innocent on that technicality I think they are legally obliged to cancel all tickets that were given out while the brach was there.
They probably won't do that.

If you are lucky they might find you guilty of speeding but give you a lenient punishment.
They might say that as you were not deliberately speeding and as you made a mistake with reading the speed limits then they will be lenient.

I guess it depends on how you phrase your defence and whether you want to get off with no points or are looking for the camera to be discredited and everyone to get their tickets cancelled.
I