Failed Paperwork Leads to Six Month Driving Ban After 83mph Case

A man has been disqualified from driving for six months after failing to identify the rider of a motorcycle caught travelling at high speed on a Cornwall road.

On 27th January, Theodore Pope was found guilty at Truro Magistrates Court of failing to identify the driver in relation to a speeding offence from April last year.

What happened

The offence involved a motorcycle registered to Theodore. The bike was recorded travelling at 83mph in a 30mph speed limit on the A394 between Newtown and Germoe.

The case before the court focused on the failure to comply with requests to identify who was riding the motorcycle at the time of the offence.

Court outcome

The court imposed a £440 fine, along with a £176 victim surcharge. Theodore was also disqualified from driving for six months.

Why the penalty was higher

Had the driver been identified when requested, the maximum penalty under Magistrates sentencing guidelines would have been a 56 day disqualification or six penalty points.

The case highlights that failing to identify a driver, even when high speeds are involved, can result in a more severe outcome than the original speeding offence.

📷Credit: Devon & Cornwall Police Road Safety Team