How to Write an Appeal Letter to Contest a Speeding Ticket

Did you get a speeding ticket and think it’s not fair? Are you worried about how to pay the fine? You’re not alone. Each month, more than 32,000 people visit this site for advice on tickets and fines. 

In this guide, we’ll help you understand:

•  What a speeding ticket is and why you get one
•  How you can appeal against a speeding ticket and possibly win
•  How much you might have to pay for a speeding ticket
•  If you will have to go to court
•  What to do if your appeal fails

We know how you feel when you get a ticket, and we’re here to help you understand your options.

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How You Are Given a Speeding Ticket

The process for dealing with speeding penalties differs depending on how you received them. It can be done by a camera or by a police officer. Here are the details of both processes.

First of all, if you are pulled over by the police. A police officer’s decision on how to deal with you, is very much at their discretion. There are three possible outcomes:

1. A verbal warning is issued to you.
2. Standard fines are imposed on you in the form of a fixed penalty notice. Which the officer can give to you.
3. The officer will tell you that you are going to have to go to court and that a summons will be sent to you.

The second scenario revolves around traffic cameras. Within 14 days of an offence being committed, you will be notified by post if you were caught speeding by a traffic camera. The following two documents will be sent to you:

1. A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP).
2. A Section 172 notice.

Section 172 notices must be filled out and returned within 28 days. The driver of the car must be identified. Upon doing so, you will receive one of two further notifications by post:

1. There will be a fixed penalty notice as well as a standard fine.
2. Attendance details for a court appearance.

Is Speeding a Criminal Offence in the UK?

Speeding generally is not a criminal offence (non-payment of a speeding fine can be), but you will receive a driving conviction for speeding. The following table shows all of the UK’s speeding-related conviction codes.

Will You Have To Go to Court?

A speeding fine cannot be ignored, as you might ignore a parking charge notice. As with official parking fines, speeding fines do not expire. As a result, if you receive a speeding ticket, you might need to appear in court for three reasons. Below, I will discuss each of them.

1. Due to the seriousness of the offence, a fixed penalty notice could not be issued. You will be required to appear in court in this case, and you will be fined at the end of the hearing.
2. There was a fixed penalty notice fine that you failed to pay. If you do not pay a speeding fine, it is much more serious than if you do not pay a parking fine. Your refusal to pay the fine could result in a criminal conviction if you continue to refuse to pay it.
3. While you can appeal against a parking fine online, there is no such process for appealing against a speeding fine. In the event that you have received a fixed penalty notice for speeding, and you feel you should not have to pay it, you have one option. It would be necessary for you to appear in court and present your case. In this case, you should keep in mind that if you lose, your speeding fine could be increased. Any court costs as well as the lawyer’s fees would also have to be paid. Unless the speeding fine is quite high, paying it rather than facing additional costs is often the best course of action.

How Much Is the Fine for a Speeding Ticket?

The amount of a speeding fine in the UK depends on the severity of the offence and the speed of the driver. There is a minimum penalty of a £100 fine and three penalty points on your driving license for a speeding ticket, but these penalties can increase if the circumstances warrant.

Additionally, factors such as the location of the offence, the driver’s driving record, and aggravating factors such as excessive speed or dangerous driving can influence the fine amount. Drivers may also be required to attend a speed awareness course, which may result in a lower fine or no points.

There is a maximum fine of £1,000 for a speeding offence in the UK, but this can increase to £2,500 if the incident occurs on a motorway. Certain cases may also result in the driver’s license being suspended or revoked, particularly if they have accumulated a large number of penalty points.

Below, I have added a table that shows how speeding fines are calculated in the UK, depending on the band.

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How To Appeal Against a Speeding Ticket

The option of appealing against a speeding ticket that you have received in the UK is available to you in the event that you wish to challenge it. The steps that need to be followed are listed below:

• Take the time to carefully review the details on the ticket, including the date and location of the alleged offence, your speed, and any other details that may be relevant to the case.
• If you believe that the speeding ticket was erroneous or if you believe that you were not speeding, you can appeal it. Additionally, you may have other grounds for appealing, depending on your situation.
• In order to submit your appeal, you will need to send a letter to the court. Your contact information, the details of the alleged offence, and the grounds for your appeal must be provided.
• After you have submitted your appeal, you will be notified of the date and time of the hearing. You will have the opportunity to present your case and provide evidence in support of your appeal. A decision will then be made by the court.

It is important to remember that appealing against a speeding ticket can be a complex and time-consuming process, and it is advisable to seek legal advice if you are unsure of how to proceed. Furthermore, you should submit your appeal within the timeframe specified on the ticket, which is usually within 28 days.

Using a Speeding Ticket Appeal Letter Template

As part of the appeal process, you will need to send a letter to the court, explaining why you believe you have valid cause to appeal. You can use a standard appeal letter template to do this. I have added a basic template for an appeal letter for a speeding ticket, below.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, Postcode]

[Date]

[Name of Court]

[Address of Court]

[City, Postcode]

To whom it may concern,

This letter is in response to my speeding ticket from [Date of Offence], at [Location of Offence]. In my opinion, the ticket was issued in error, and I would like to request that the case be reviewed.

My appeal is based on the following grounds:

[Explain why you are appealing, such as not driving the vehicle at the time of the offence, the speed camera was not calibrated correctly, or there were mitigating circumstances.]

Consequently, I request that the case be reviewed and the charges be dropped. If you need any additional information or evidence, I am happy to provide it.

I appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

What if Your Appeal Fails?

Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may have several options if your appeal against a speeding ticket fails. I have listed several possible, below. 

• If your appeal is unsuccessful, you may have to accept the penalty, which may include a fine or penalty points on your license. Paying the penalty promptly is essential, as failure to do so can result in additional fines or even a court summons.
• Appeals to a higher court or judicial review may be options if you believe a court decision was incorrect or unjust. The downside is that these options can be time-consuming and expensive.
• If you are a first-time offender and your offence was not too serious, you may be eligible for a speed awareness course. Drivers who complete these courses may receive a lower fine or no points on their licenses as a result of learning safe driving practices.

What About Going Just a Fraction Over the Speed Limit?

When it comes to speeding, the law is a bit lenient. Minor factors can certainly play a part in causing a short period of time where one edges slightly over the speed limit. According to how you were caught speeding, the extra speed leeway you are given will vary. I have explained this, below.

• You won’t receive an automatic speeding penalty if you’re caught by a traffic camera as long as you’re not exceeding the speed limit, plus 10%, plus 2mph. For example, if you were caught speeding on a motorway at 79mph or less, you would not be fined.
• If you are caught speeding by the police, you won’t be given a speeding ticket as long as you are not going faster than the speed limit plus 10%. As long as you do not exceed 77mph on a motorway, the police will not pull you over.