A LEARNER driver has told of her shock after receiving a fine for speeding while on a driving lesson.

Stacie Ralphes, 17, was on a lesson with the AA Driving School in Weymouth when she was clocked travelling at 36mph through a 30mph zone.

The Portland teenager had 12 hours of driving under her belt when the car she was learning to drive in was caught speeding along Lanehouse Rocks Road.

Health and social care student Stacie was flabbergasted to find that she was liable for the incident after receiving a speeding ticket from Dorset Police.

She was given the choice of taking three penalty points or attending a driver awareness course.

Stacie said: “I was shocked to find that the notification was in my name. I thought the driving instructor would have made sure that speeding didn’t happen as that’s what they are there for.

“I was angry and frustrated. I understand that I was partially responsible but I felt as a learner driver who has just started, I’ve been learning to deal with everything else involved in driving.”

The novice driver, who opted to attend a driver awareness course, was initially told she would have to fund the £110 course fee herself.

She said: “I’ve lost my confidence when driving through this. It has been a big setback.”

Stacie’s mum Beverley Riseboro, 38, is calling for the AA Driving School to make learner drivers aware that they are liable for offences while on lessons.

She said: “I think when you are paying so much money for driving lessons people should know that something like this could happen.

“I’m a single parent and Stacie is at college. I’m paying for everything so to get whacked like this with £110 to pay for a course is awful.

“Stacie wants to be in a job where she looks after old people or disabled children and she will need to drive.

“When this happened she said she didn’t want to go driving ever again.

“I find it incredible that after 12 hours of driving my daughter could be solely responsible for this.”

Stacie has now left the AA Driving School and has resumed her lessons with a different driving school.

• WHEN the Echo contacted the AA, a spokesman said the driving school will pay for Stacie’s driver awareness course as ‘a gesture of goodwill’.

The spokesman added: “We are sorry that this incident has happened while Stacie was under our instruction and appreciate that this has caused distress for her and her family.

“However, the law is clear that if a motoring offence is committed then the driver is liable for any penalty, such as points on their licence or attending an awareness course, even if they are a learner. It is illegal for anyone other than the driver to take the penalty.

“We are still working with the family to resolve their complaint and would be happy to give them a cheque for the cost to attend the course.”