Freddie Far too Flipping fast Flintoff...

[karlt]

...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-28972176

Sod him. He can afford drivers.

[661-Pete]

Did he engage the services of "Mr Loophole", I wonder?

[Phil Fouracre]

Another bloody farce, never going to change

[thirdcrank]

Did he engage the services of "Mr Loophole", I wonder?

Michael Neofytou,

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cr ... z3BiFUcQiF

Already being discussed here:

viewtopic.php?p=815687#p815687

[reohn2]

Another bloody farce, never going to change

+1,what do you have to do to prove your not capable of being trusted on the road

[TonyR]

At least 68% of even Mirror readers thought he should have been banned.

[Bonefishblues]

Or to look at it another way, Flintoff would have got a 1 year ban I guess, and then back on the road with a clean slate.

In this scenario he has this hanging over him for 3 years in the sense that another offence will undoubtedly mean a ban, and possibly a longer one given the comments of the judge. He can also carry on with his charity work - which I assume was evidenced in court.

Which scenario has a greater likelihood of changing his behaviour?

[reohn2]

....Which scenario has a greater likelihood of changing his behaviour?

The ban,as he was on his last chance,supposedly with 9points on his licence and three previous convictions.It should've been 12months and a fine that matched his income*,£2k?

*IMHO all fines should be income linked.

[Bonefishblues]

....Which scenario has a greater likelihood of changing his behaviour?

The ban,as he was on his last chance,supposedly with 9points on his licence and three previous convictions.It should've been 12months and a fine that matched his income*,£2k?

*IMHO all fines should be income linked.

Agree with your point about fines (but they are anyway, I believe) and will have to agree to differ (again, IIRC!) re our views on behavioural change.

[thirdcrank]

If nine points and the threat of totting-up didn't stop him, it seems unlikely to me that any number of points and a successful plea of exceptional hardship will have any greater effect. Although the beak told the defendant he wouldn't be able to use the same excuse again, AFAIK that's not the case. If something amounts to exceptional hardship today, unless circumstances change it's exceptional hardship tomorrow.

[[XAP]Bob]

Exceptional hardship pleas should be required at 9 points - and then the person told that there is no excuse for speeding again - there is no "exceptional" hardship if you are stupid enough to repeat the offence, causing yourself that hardship

[reohn2]

Agree with your point about fines (but they are anyway, I believe)

If they are they aren't equal enough.

and will have to agree to differ (again, IIRC!) re our views on behavioural change.

If someone keeps collecting points and with a good enough lawyer(which will no doubt cost a packet) and good enough sob story to to fob off a judge* he won't change his behaviour.
A driving ban will make him think again whilst he's inconvenienced for the next six months or so,it's not as if a Bentley owner can't afford a short term alternative to driving himself.
It's also not as if he doesn't know when he's breaking the law or how the penalty system(should)work.

*The 'justice' system is a game being played by those with the money to do so,especially with regard to motoring crime.

[Bonefishblues]

Agree with your point about fines (but they are anyway, I believe)

If they are they aren't equal enough.

Possibly so, but we haven't got the detailed evidence, so whilst we can take a view it's hard to make an informed judgement. The Judge had discretion to fine up to 2.5K AIUI, dependent on means and the details of the case, so this has undoubtedly come out at the lower end - but there will be a reason for the penalty applied.

and will have to agree to differ (again, IIRC!) re our views on behavioural change.

If someone keeps collecting points and with a good enough lawyer(which will no doubt cost a packet) and good enough sob story to to fob off a judge* he won't change his behaviour.

That's also a judgement, of course - the precise point I was making was the balance between a 1 year ban but coming out with a clean licence, as would be the case, vs the certainty of a (a potentially lengthier one - my speculation) ban at any point in the next 3 years if he reoffended. We call it different ways.

A driving ban will make him think again whilst he's inconvenienced for the next six months or so,it's not as if a Bentley owner can't afford a short term alternative to driving himself.
It's also not as if he doesn't know when he's breaking the law or how the penalty system(should)work.

*The 'justice' system is a game being played by those with the money to do so,especially with regard to motoring crime.

I think he's a lucky lad, irrespective of broader questions about the legal system - but this isn't a complex/expensive case in the grand scheme of things. All the Barrister did on his behalf was enter a plea in mitigation which satisfied the Judge under the current rules, where a Defendant must show exceptional hardship. Flintoff stood in the dock and looked contrite, I expect.

[reohn2]

So we'll have to agree to differ then

[beardy]

the certainty of a (a potentially lengthier one - my speculation) ban at any point in the next 3 years if he reoffended.

Not really, many of those 9 points could well be a few years old themselves. He could even be able to break the speed limit in a few months time, get done and still be under his twelve points.