How Long Does Police Have to Issue a Speeding Ticket?
By
Janine
Janine Marsh
Financial Expert
My name’s Janine, and I’m a mum of two who’s always been passionate about trying to cut down spending costs. I am now sharing as much financial knowledge as I possibly can to help your money go that little bit further.
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Have you received a speeding ticket and are worried about what to do next? You’re not alone. Each month, our website is visited by over 32,000 people who are feeling just the same as you.
Getting a speeding ticket can be scary and confusing, but don’t worry. In this easy guide, we’ll explain:
Why you might get a speeding ticket
How much a speeding fine could be in the UK
What happens when you’re caught speeding
The process for the police to issue a Notice of Intended Prosecution
What to do if the Notice arrives later than 14 days
We understand what you’re going through; some of us have been in the same boat. With our expertise, we’ll help you understand how you can handle your speeding ticket.
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Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.
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What happens when you’re caught speeding?
There’s a process that follows after you’re caught speeding whether it’s by a police officer or on a speed camera. If you’re caught red-handed going over the speed limit by the police, you’ll get a verb notice (Notice of Intended Prosecution – NIP).
However, if a speed camera catches you over the speed limit, the Notice of Intended Prosecution arrives in the post to the registered owner. So, if you’re the registered keeper, you must complete the Section 172 form that’s included in the NIP within 28 days.
You have a legal obligation to tell the police who was driving when the fine was issued if you weren’t the driver at the time.
Next, if you were the driver, you’ll get a Fixed Penalty Notice in the post. You have two choices which are to:
Plead guilty and accept the consequences
Plead not guilty and go to court
It’s worth noting that challenging a speeding fine is not easy as the police don’t have to provide evidence of the offence. Unless the case goes to court that is!
You could end up losing the case, paying a higher fine and getting more penalty points on your licence!
How much is a speeding fine now in the UK?
The cost of a speeding ticket in the UK varies depending on how much over the speed limit you’re caught doing. But the minimum penalty is £100 and three penalty points on your licence. There are 3 categories of speed offences which are band A, B, and C.
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.
How long do police have to issue a Notice of Intended Prosecution?
If you weren’t given a verbal Notice of Intended Prosecution by the police, the NIP arrives in the post. However, the police must send the notice to the registered keeper within 14 days of the speeding offence.
That said, it may take longer if the DVLA is slow to respond to a police request for details of the registered keeper.
What happens when a NIP arrives later than 14 days?
The police can’t prosecute a driver for a speeding offence if the registered keeper receives the NIP later than 14 days after an offence. In short, a driver can’t be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice!
Although it’s the law, there are instances where a driver is still prosecuted for a speeding offence. For example, if the offence happened in a hire car, the rental company (registered keeper) gets the NIP.
The police have fulfilled their legal obligation to issue the NIP within the 14-day deadline. So, the driver can’t use the ‘out of time’ excuse to get out of paying a speeding fine!
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How long do the police have to send a fixed penalty notice?
The police have six months to serve you with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). However, an FPH can only be served when a Notice of Intended Prosecution lands through your letterbox within 14 days.
But, as mentioned, there are exceptions to the 14-day rule!
Also, although the police have six months to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice for speeding, the fine usually arrives much sooner than that.
Would you get a NIP in the post when a police officer catches you speeding?
No. If a police officer catches you speeding, they’ll give you a verbal NIP. As such, you won’t get a Notice of Intended Prosecution in the post.
How long do police have to issue a speeding ticket?
The police must serve you with a Notice of Intended Prosecution within 14 days of the offence.(NOTE TO ED: PLEASE LINK TO Speeding fine received after 14 daysWHEN PUBLISHED) However, you may be given a verbal notice by a police officer if you’re stopped on the road. In this case, you won’t be sent another NIP in the post.
When it comes to Fixed Penalty Notices for speeding, the police have six months to issue them. Although the fine typically arrives in the post much sooner.
But an FPN can only be issued once a Notice of Intended Prosecution has been served within the deadline!
I hope the info helps you understand how long the police have to issue a speeding ticket and that it clears up any confusion between a NIP and a Fixed Penalty Notice!
How much would a speeding ticket set you back?
A speeding ticket in the UK could set you back as much as £2,500 when you’re caught over the speed limit on a motorway. However, on other public roads, the maximum fine is set at £1,000.
That said, speeding fines are calculated on your earnings. I’ve included the 3 bands for speeding tickets here:
You could get lucky and be offered the chance to go on a speed awareness course instead of having to pay a fine. But only if you’re not a repeat offender!
Plus, you must attend the course or you could end up with a fine and penalty points anyway!
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.
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My name’s Janine, and I’m a mum of two who’s always been passionate about trying to cut down spending costs. I am now sharing as much financial knowledge as I possibly can to help your money go that little bit further.
