Driving Conviction - Will I Lose FAC/SGC?

[Little Willy]

Ok so I admit I’ve done something really stupid and dangerous, although no harm was done in the end. I went through a rail crossing on a red before the barrier came down and a driver in another vehicle has sent in their dash-cam footage to the police. My wife is the registered keeper of the vehicle and has sent off the form to confirm it was me driving.

I’ve googled the likely outcome which looks like somewhere between being sent on a driving awareness course up to a minimum 12 month ban and a criminal conviction for dangerous driving. Not that it will matter but it’s totally out of character and not an example of how I usually drive at all.

My question is whether I will automatically lose my guns if I’m convicted? If I do will I have an opportunity to sell them or will they be siezed?

 

[SimonDodsworth]

Nope, only a custodial sentence is automatic loss

 

[hoodwink]

I dont think you can get an absolute answer here. It so depends on your firarms officer, and your eventual conviction and that probably will be on how bad it looks on dashcam video.
The previous answer is correct but you can lose you FAC for non custodial offences like drink driving.

 

[TITANIUM]

Ok so I admit I’ve done something really stupid and dangerous, although no harm was done in the end. I went through a rail crossing on a red before the barrier came down and a driver in another vehicle has sent in their dash-cam footage to the police. My wife is the registered keeper of the vehicle and has sent off the form to confirm it was me driving.

I’ve googled the likely outcome which looks like somewhere between being sent on a driving awareness course up to a minimum 12 month ban and a criminal conviction for dangerous driving. Not that it will matter but it’s totally out of character and not an example of how I usually drive at all.

My question is whether I will automatically lose my guns if I’m convicted? If I do will I have an opportunity to sell them or will they be siezed?

No

 

[Donkey Basher]

Acquaintance of mine got caught drink driving, convicted & points on licence but no revocation of FAC or SGC. He then got caught drink driving a second time & this time he lost his certificates. He was able to reapply for them after a period of time & got them back. My take on it would be if you've a clean licence & no history, i.e. no 'expired' driving offences, & you get yourself a good brief who puts together a cogent argument in your defence then you've a reasonable chance of keeping your certificate(s).

 

[25 Sharps]

If they are in a bad mood and see you as a risk taker who doesn’t follow rules they’ll take them. If they can be persuaded otherwise you’ll probably be ok. You either fess up or don’t do any variations and declare it at next renewal.

 

[Lancaster]

Ok so I admit I’ve done something really stupid and dangerous, although no harm was done in the end. I went through a rail crossing on a red before the barrier came down and a driver in another vehicle has sent in their dash-cam footage to the police. My wife is the registered keeper of the vehicle and has sent off the form to confirm it was me driving.

I’ve googled the likely outcome which looks like somewhere between being sent on a driving awareness course up to a minimum 12 month ban and a criminal conviction for dangerous driving. Not that it will matter but it’s totally out of character and not an example of how I usually drive at all.

My question is whether I will automatically lose my guns if I’m convicted? If I do will I have an opportunity to sell them or will they be siezed?

I would be surprised if you lost your tickets unless you were stupid and lied about who was driving or were pished......

 

[Morkai]

Ok so I admit I’ve done something really stupid and dangerous, although no harm was done in the end. I went through a rail crossing on a red before the barrier came down and a driver in another vehicle has sent in their dash-cam footage to the police. My wife is the registered keeper of the vehicle and has sent off the form to confirm it was me driving.

I’ve googled the likely outcome which looks like somewhere between being sent on a driving awareness course up to a minimum 12 month ban and a criminal conviction for dangerous driving. Not that it will matter but it’s totally out of character and not an example of how I usually drive at all.

My question is whether I will automatically lose my guns if I’m convicted?

What offense (S××) was on the letter?

If you get that, then you will have a better idea of the outcome.

 

[EMcC]

I know someone that lost his licence for drink driving, banned for a year and three points on his licence.
Nothing was said or impacted his FC.

 

[Little Willy]

What offense (S××) was on the letter?

If you get that, then you will have a better idea of the outcome.

Offence:
Disobeying traffic signs and police signals
Contrary to:
Section 35 and 36 RTA 1988

 

[C h r i s]

Happened to a friend of mine, he had a visit from British Transport police, who just gave him a ticking off. No points etc as 1st time offence. He's not an FAC holder.

 

[Morkai]

Offence:
Disobeying traffic signs and police signals
Contrary to:
Section 35 and 36 RTA 1988

Probably 3 points and £100 fine, maybe the offer of an awareness course.

I think you'll be fine.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Is it just me that hates dash cam warriors ?
I bet he had a sticker on his car and was wearing a cardigan.

 

[Little Willy]

Probably 3 points and £100 fine, maybe the offer of an awareness course.

I think you'll be fine.

That would be a relief. Fingers crossed!

 

[Morkai]

That would be a relief. Fingers crossed!

I think I'd prefer the points and fine over attending an awareness course, haha.

A young lad at work got caught doing over 100mph on a motorway. He was still within 2 years of having his licence, so 6 points meant he would lose it.

He wrote a letter, grovelled, attended his hearing, came away with his licence, a few points and a hefty fine, but no ban.

It's not always the worse case scenario you see when looking online.

 

[Sakoodin1]

If you’re not needing your guns for a while I would shove them into your local rfd just incase!! The police will come seize them before you know what outcome is coming if it’s bad so at least if they are in your rfd they can’t get there paws on them because they will smash them around and be slow on giving you them back! Safer in your rfd until you find out the outcome

 

[TRNCNDNT]

I think I'd prefer the points and fine over attending an awareness course, haha.

I'm entirely inclined to agree with this. After sitting through one years ago I concluded I'd rather have made the fine money back doing the equivalent time of the course as overtime at work! Patronisation levels were off the charts - kept saying how they know it was probably a one off for everyone or how attention drifts etc etc, I honestly just wanted to yell 'no, I was a dick and intentionally drove that speed, don't insult my cognitive functions please!'

 

[enfieldspares]

Of course it may be that the car with the camera was so far up your arse and the road wet an icy or you though their driving erratic such as they might be drunk (them tailgating you, driving fast to catch up with you) that you were worried that it'd strike you from behind.

Don't forget their dashcam evidence you have, likely, a full right to see and I'd be certainly asking to do so...and retain a copy for your legal advisor...before pleading coughing to it.

If they can't produce the evidence the charge cannot be proven unless the witness themselves attend any hearing or the crossing has its own cameras. And if that footage doesn't exist and can be produced it is their word against yours.

I'd see a solicitor and if it shows recklessness by the film maker or possible driving that caused you to act so to consider going to Magistrates' Court and pleading guilty but with mitigation. I did that with a parking ticket now thirty years back and got an absolute discharge with no order as to costs and no fine either. See a solicitor who is versed in motoring offences.

Indeed it may even result if that were the case in legal proceedings if your making a complaint is justified against the dash cam warrior. If they do appear in Court you can cross examine them as to previous dash cam allegations they've made.

OTOH you could say that you ex-wife ran off with a man owning a similar colour, make and model of car some few years ago and you thought it was him trying to bring her back?

The question is why did you go through on red? That will determine the possible outcome. If it just changed after you'd already committed yourself to cross and were already on the crossing as they started then IMHO there's no case to answer. What else would you do? Stop and then risk the barriers falling and your being trapped?

But be 100% truthful in what you say and so be careful of what you therefore do say and be aware any implication of lack of due care and attention! As my brief once said to me, God bless her, "If you've not done it then don't plead guilty." I followed her advice didn't plead guilty and the Judge threw the case out when it arrived before him for plea and direction.

 

[Bowland blades]

Nope, only a custodial sentence is automatic loss

Not so at at all ! Totting up points is enough , if you get an outright driving ban from this , three points and its going to be less likely but sure its deffo on the cards with most forces if you acted obviously recklessly ( ie stopping then deciding to go on the red) , drink driving doesn't generally get custodial but it will mostly see you loose your guns !

 

[Stalker62]

Nope, only a custodial sentence is automatic loss

Simply not the case.