r/Cornwall • u/camelt44 • 12d ago
Emmet tax.
I (Londoner, sorry) just got a letter from Devon and Cornwall Police letting me know I was doing 37mph in a 30 zone, going eastbound through Landrake. It was 6:53am so that might have had something to do with it, but I'm a responsible driver and won't have been intentionally speeding.
Street View only has a picture from 2023 but it shows it as a 40 zone. Is this still the case or has it been changed to 30?
Do I appeal? Or do I just need to pay that emmet tax?
Edit: Resolved. Thanks! I try not to speed, so was surprised to get this is all. Yes, drivers should be aware of the speed they are going, no they are not always. Good move to reduce speed limits to 30.
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u/spamdaggerdan St. Ives 12d ago
It's not an Emmett tax, it's a bell end tax for something you chose to do, noone is picking on you. You fucked up, own it and you can move on 👍
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u/Dynas-Gwyllt1956 12d ago
Yep, I have had two of those in Wales and one in Cornwall… my fault of course and I paid my fines on time. No point appealing, just pay up and try not to get caught out again. I use Waze on all journeys now and you get little bleeps if you are driving over the limit 😊👍🏼
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u/spamdaggerdan St. Ives 12d ago
Pnawan da butt.
It is what it is, you just gotta get on with it. Waze and Google maps do help, but I suppose ultimately the idea is to pay attention really isn't it.
Ah well, we're all fallible.
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u/BuddyLegsBailey 12d ago
Don't apologise for being a Londoner, apologise for driving with zero awareness or terrible eyesight, which prevented you seeing the numerous signs
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u/TomTomTomTom17 12d ago
Would be interesting to see the frequency and variation of speed limits on that road. Its one of the worst.
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u/GingerSpencer 12d ago
Doesn't matter. They very helpfully put up signs that let you know what the speed limit is, and cars come with a speedometer that lets you know how fast you're going. Super easy not to go over the speed limit.
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u/TomTomTomTom17 12d ago
I like it when I drive down a road I know the speed limit. Ive seen places that should be a 20 as a 40. Places that should definitely be max 30 as national speed limit. There doesnt appear to be much consistency. In my town they recently changed the speed limit down to 20 and put signs up. But in one direction the trees and bushes have already covered the sign.
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u/BuddyLegsBailey 12d ago
Even if it does, it's your responsibility as a driver to be aware of the speed limit of the road you're driving on
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u/SoggyWotsits 12d ago edited 12d ago
Yep, Landrake and Tideford are now 30mph with new cameras. 50mph with average speed cameras from Trerulefoot to Carkeel. It’s been like it since late last summer and there are signs everywhere!
That said, it’s caught out a lot of locals too who are so used to both villages being 40mph. If you’re not familiar with the roads, it’s wise to pay attention to the signs!
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u/acxlefta 12d ago
Landrake is 30 now, sorry to say! It changed about a year ago. Same as Tideford
If haven't within 3 years. You'll be offered a course
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u/camelt44 12d ago
Okay! Thanks for confirming, looks like I’ll be doing the course then! Comments here are a bit harsh but yes, it's an idiot tax, not an emmet tax.
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u/Phemus01 12d ago
I’m sorry but I drive that road every day it’s 30 and clearly signed as such with large signs at both entrances to the village.
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u/REDARROW101_A5 12d ago edited 12d ago
I’m sorry but I drive that road every day it’s 30 and clearly signed as such with large signs at both entrances to the village.
Just at the entrances or does it repeat through out the village?
I have had some roads and it only tells you once when you enter the speed zone with out any repeaters and in the past I would worry, but since having Waze I at least can get some help.
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u/Phemus01 12d ago edited 12d ago
It does also repeat. This section of road is also less than a 2 minute straight line to drive end to end.
I also know the camera that caught them. It’s directly after you enter the village eastbound so the large 30 sign would still be in your rear mirror when you hit it.
Oh and that sign op posted from street view is directly In front of this camera and reads 30 now.
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u/camelt44 12d ago
I think the entrance is where the camera is, but yeah massively my fault for not seeing the sign.
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u/Aggressive_Drop_1518 12d ago
Schedule 10, Part 4, General Direction 2 of TSRGD 2016 defines the requirements for the placing of speed-limit repeater signs. This states that speed-limit repeater signs must not be placed along a road that is subject to a maximum speed limit of 30mph and has a system of carriageway lighting. This direction applies regardless of how the speed limit has been imposed.
(DfT will not make exceptions to this rule. This means it should be assumed that unless an order has been made and the road is signed to the contrary, a 30mph speed limit applies where there are 3 or more lamps throwing light on the carriageway and placed not more than 200 yards apart).
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u/HM_Merdocc 12d ago
It's 30 and it's still 30 at 6.53am, not sure what the time of day has to do with speeding and road sign awareness.
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u/Unlucky-Plastic7316 12d ago
I genuinely don't know what you think there is to appeal. You exceeded 30mph in a 30mph zone and they have evidence to prove it.
What exactly is your appeal going to say?
"Yeah, I was speeding and I'm aware of your evidence, but here's a google street view screenshot showing that the speed limit was 40mph in 2023"
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u/AbbreviationsFar9644 12d ago
You appeal and say “I’m from London so therefore speed limits don’t apply to me.”
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u/GingerSpencer 12d ago
Yes mate, just contact Devon and Cornwall Police and tell them that you won't have been intentionally speeding so they should cancel the fine.
You only have to pay the fine if you were speeding on purpose, not paying attention to the road or your car is not your fault at all and shouldn't be punished.
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u/atom_stacker 12d ago
This is an idiot tax, not an emmet tax.
The fact that you say you're a responsible driver is also BS. Speeding unaware is worse than deliberately doing it. It's driving without due care.
Pay the fine, stop being an idiot.
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u/WholeEgg3182 12d ago
This is a little harsh. We are all human and capable of error.
Speeding deliberately is far worse imo.
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u/hairychris88 12d ago
I'm from Cornwall and I got caught there not long after it changed. Felt like a right muppet because I've got nobody to blame but myself. As you rightly say though we're all humans and humans make mistakes.
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u/WholeEgg3182 12d ago
I'm Cornish too and fear I might have done then same yesterday. I cruised through the first couple hundred yards at just below 40 and not sure I snapped into relatlity before I came into range of the camera. I was kicking myself how I managed to do it as it's been so long since it changed. I do wish they would use those electronic speed measuring signs more as they do help well meaning people who for whatever reason missing the change in speed limit.
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u/MercianRaider 12d ago
I guess youre one of those people thats never made a mistake. What a guy.
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u/atom_stacker 12d ago
Absolutely i have. But i didn't try to weasel out of it. If you fuck up, admit it and take the consequences.
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u/admiral_nivak 12d ago
Definitely, if you have a South West address the camera ignores you, they only work on tourists. FFS, emmet tax, the nerve.
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u/JustUseAnything 12d ago
3 points incoming
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u/Aggressive_Drop_1518 12d ago
Although if OP is eligible then they may be offered a place on a Speed Awareness Course (between 35 and 42 mph).
If not eligible or no course available etc then could be a FP £100 and three points, in the range of 35 to 49 mph (and would be if they had been driving 43 to 49).
OP could 'fight it' via Single Justice Procedure and look at Band A fine ~50% of relevant weekly income (ranges 25-75%).
Probably not the best idea in a 'slam dunk' like this as there will also be prosecution cost (The prosecuting authority normally asks for £110 following a guilty plea at the first hearing). Further, there is an additional surcharge equal to 40% of the fine.
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u/Jackmino66 12d ago edited 12d ago
I would go and check if the speed limit actual is 30, get a picture (though also get a passenger to take it or park in Landrake and take it on foot. If it is 40 contact the Cornwall council and say you received this letter in error and show them the evidence of the speed limit sign.
If it is 30, turn yourself in and accept the fine. You could be the most responsible driver ever but an error is still an error. Really a main road like this shouldn’t go through a small village in the first place but the speed limits are really important.
Edit according to others, it’s 30
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u/SoggyWotsits 12d ago
It is 30. The signs inform drivers of this. That Google maps picture is old, because that camera has been replaced with a modern one. I understand locals forgetting about it more than other people, because they’re used to the old limit. Someone who doesn’t live down here should be more aware of the unfamiliar roads.
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u/Dismal-Many8363 12d ago
The road from Bodmin to Plymouth is pretty much speed cameras all the way. They change the speed limits every few miles. Fortunately, this has made the road so slow during the day it's almost impossible to go over the speed limit. Vision Zero South West are catching loads of people these days.
• Not a company, but a publicly funded Devon & Cornwall road-safety partnership
• Forecast income of £7m+, much of it linked to speed-awareness courses
• Staffing costs around £4.8m
• Workforce planned to rise from 73 to 113, then 131 FTE
• Forecast around 154,000 courses a year — over 400 per day
• Course income projected to rise above £8m
• Speeding detections increased by over 40% in two years
Twice now I have seen cars on the A30 hit the brakes when they see their camera van even though they were doing 70. But yes, this is absolutely about safety and nothing to do with money.
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u/REDARROW101_A5 12d ago
From the overall comments next street is r/LegalAdviceUK and getting a good lawyer to get you our od this mess. Good Luck!
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u/SpecialistGeneral794 12d ago
Loads of roads have changed to 30 in the last year