Will I Be Sent to Court For a Speeding Ticket? How To Appeal
Got a speeding ticket and worried about what comes next? You’re not alone. Every month, our website is visited by over 32,000 people who are facing similar worries about tickets and fines.
Let’s take a look at the key things you need to know:
- Why you might be sent to court for a speeding ticket
- How to appeal against the ticket
- Understanding what happens if you’re caught speeding
- Your options if you can’t afford to pay the fine
- Ways to avoid being sent to court for speeding
We know it can feel scary to get a speeding ticket. You might be worried about court, the cost, or even just how to appeal. We’re here to help guide you through this process.
Let’s dive in.
Do You Have to Pay?
In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your fine.
It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.
Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.
Chat below to get started with JustAnswer
In partnership with Just Answer.
Do you have to go to court for a speeding ticket?
You might have to go to court for a speeding ticket if you don’t accept you were speeding and allow the matter to escalate to prosecution. In other words, if you want to appeal.
You will also be summoned to court if you don’t reply to the NIP within 28 days. The court summons when not replying to the NIP will also be for failing to comply, as well as the alleged speeding offence.
This is what has happened here:
Source: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6240932/court-letter-for-speeding-offence
Moreover, drivers guilty of serious speeding offences that resulted in injury or death to other people will be summoned to court for possible sentencing.
What court will you be summoned to for speeding?
You will usually be summoned to a Magistrates’ Court. But there could be exceptions.
What happens if you go to court for speeding?
What happens in court will depend on the speeding offence. If you have allowed a lesser speeding offence to escalate to court because you don’t agree that you were speeding, it can be very difficult to win your appeal.
The police only have to prove you were speeding for any amount of time to win the case. The 10% + 2mph guideline won’t help you win in court. In these cases, you’re likely to be given maximum punishment including a bigger fine.
If you are summoned to court due to a more serious speeding offence that caused injury or death, then you can be given community service, or more likely, a prison sentence. You’ll also have your licence taken from you in most of these cases.
Successful Appeal Case Study
Situation
| Initial Fine | £100 |
| Additional Fees | £171 |
| Total Fine | £271 |
The Appeal Process
Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.
| Total Fine | £271 |
| Cost of legal advice | £5 |
JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.
Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.
In partnership with Just Answer.
Court fees for speeding offence
Court fees for speeding vary, with some as low as £85 when an early guilty plea is made. But the court cost can be significantly more.
You might also need to cover prosecution costs, witness costs and even a victim surcharge cost.
How to avoid being sent to court for speeding
The only way to absolutely avoid being sent to court for a speeding offence are:
- Obey road rules and don’t speed in the first place
- Accept a Fixed Penalty Notice and the accompanying punishments when offered
In other words, the only way you can avoid being summoned to court for speeding is to comply with the process when you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution. You must reply to the NIP within 28 days, or you’ll be summoned for the original offence and for failing to comply.
Join thousands of others who got legal help for a £5 trial
Getting the support of a Solicitor can take a huge weight off your mind.
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How long does it take to get a court date for a driving offence?
It can take up to six months to get a court date for driving offences, including speeding offences. This is because the police have up to six months to get the court process started.
More serious speeding offences usually get court dates quickly.
Can you change the court date for a speeding offence?
No, you’ll be given a date and time for the initial court hearing, which must be attended.
Also dealing with a parking ticket?
If you’re also dealing with a parking ticket, I have some better news for you.
It’s much easier to get out of a parking ticket than it is to get out of a speeding tickets, especially if you can use one of the common parking ticket excuses.
Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.
If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.
Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.
For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.
Try it below
In partnership with Just Answer.
