Appealing Metropolitan Police Service Fixed Penalty Notice

Have you received a Fixed Penalty Notice from the Metropolitan Police Service? Each month, over 32,000 people visit this site for guidance on tickets and fines. It might seem scary and confusing at first, but there’s no need to panic.

In this clear and helpful guide, we’ll learn about:

• What a Fixed Penalty Notice is and why you might get one.
• How to appeal your Fixed Penalty Notice and possibly win.
• The different types of Fixed Penalty Notices.
• What happens if you ignore a Fixed Penalty Notice.
• Where to get more help if you need it.

We know it can be tough to deal with fines. Our team has guided many people in the same boat as you. We’re here to offer you the help you need. Let’s find out how you can handle your Fixed Penalty Notice.

Met Police Fixed Penalty Notice Payment

The Metropolitan Police Service gives you 28 days to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice. If you do not pay the fee within 28 days, it will be increased by 50%.

For example, if you were issued a £100 fine as part of a Fixed Penalty Notice for speeding but did not pay within 28 days, the penalty will be increased to £150. 

What happens if you disregard an FPN issued by the Metropolitan Police Service?

If you fail to meet the first deadline, your fine will be increased by 50% and you will be given another deadline to pay. Ignoring the Fixed Penalty Notice will result in the case being escalated to court and you may be prosecuted.

If the case gets to court and a judge orders you to pay, the judge is likely to raise the amount you must pay. You will also be required to pay additional court expenses. If you still fail to pay, they will almost certainly take further action, including using enforcement agents – better known as bailiffs – to attend your property to take control of your goods. As well as being distressing, this will also add even more to your overall bill. 

Will my insurance premiums go up if I receive a Met Police FPN?

A Fixed Penalty Notice can raise your insurance rates, sometimes quite significantly. 

You must declare these in order for your coverage to be valid. There have even been reports of insurance firms attempting to recoup unpaid premiums when drivers failed to notify them of an FPN.

What if I want to appeal my Metropolitan Police Service FPN?

Fixed penalty notifications from the Met Police do not have a formal appeals process. As a result, if you refuse to accept guilt for the claimed offence, the case will be decided in court.

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However, because this will be an expensive and time-consuming process, you should think about it carefully before appealing.

If you are found guilty of the offence and ordered to pay, the fines imposed by a court will be higher than those indicated in the initial fixed penalty notice.

You could be exonerated if you can demonstrate that:

• No offence was committed, or the FPN was wrongly issued
• The offence was committed by someone else
• There were technical errors in the police procedure

Note that you will need evidence to support your appeal as without it, your appeal will almost certainly be thrown out.

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How to pay a police Fixed Penalty Notice

The Metropolitan Police Service has a few options for paying a Fixed Penalty Notice. 

Online payment is generally the easiest method of payment. On this government page, you can pay your Met Fixed Penalty Notice. 

You’ll need your FPN to hand since you’ll need the reference number to find your fine. You will also require your bank card and, possibly, your driver’s licence. If you can’t find your FPN or the reference number, you will need to get in touch to find out what steps to take to pay your fine.

Alternatively, you can pay by cheque or credit/debit card – the details of where to pay will be printed on the back of the ticket. Cash is no longer an accepted form of payment.

How much will my FPN be?

The minimum fine is £60, however, some offences have greater minimum fines, such as a speeding FPN, which will cost at least £100. 

Can I pay a Fixed Penalty Notice from Metropolitan Police in instalments? 

Unfortunately, Fixed Penalty Notices must always be paid in whole and cannot be paid in instalments. 

If you’re experiencing trouble paying a Fixed Penalty Notice, you should seek help from a UK debt charity such as Stepchange, Citizens Advice or National Debtline. 

They will not be able to pay the FPN fine on your behalf, but they may be able to assist you in other areas to make your financial situation more comfortable.

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The two types of FPN

Fixed Penalty Notices are classified into two types: endorsable and non-enforceable.

Both of these FPNs impose a fine on the recipient, but an endorsable FPN also imposes penalty points on the driver’s driving record, which can stay on the driving license for as many as 11 years, impacting car insurance premiums significantly. 

£100 endorsable fixed penalty notice offences include:

• Speeding offences
• Careless driving (e.g. middle lane hogging and tailgating and reckless overtaking)
• Motorway offences (e.g. reversing on a motorway, driving on hard shoulder/central reservation, using lanes marked with red ‘X’ signs)
• Neglect of traffic directions (e.g. not stopping at a red traffic light)
• Neglect of pedestrian rights (e.g. stopping within limits of zebra/pelican/puffin crossing)
• Load offences (e.g. danger of injury due to number of passengers or manner in which they are carried)
• Motorcycle offences (e.g. carrying more than one passenger)
• Unrestrained animals (e.g. distraction from unsecured dogs in the back seat

£100 non-endorsable fixed penalty notice offences include:

• Failure to wear a seat belt whilst driving
• Vehicle test offence (using a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate

£200 endorsable fixed penalty notice offences include:

• Refusing to identify the driver
• Using a handheld mobile phone whilst driving
• £300 endorsable FPN

£300 endorsable fixed penalty offences include:

• Driving without third-party insurance
• Driving an overloaded vehicle
• Driving the wrong grade of vehicle allowed on your driving license

References:

1. Ministry of Justice (2019). Motoring fixed penalties: Endorsements and disqualifications. GOV.UK.
2. Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, c. 53. Legislation.gov.uk.