Consequences of Lying about Who Was Driving when Speeding

Have you received a speeding ticket and are unsure about what to do next? Don’t worry; you’re not the only one. Each month, this site is visited by over 32,000 people, just like you, who are seeking guidance on tickets and fines. 

In this easy-to-follow guide, we’ll help you understand:

•  Why lying about who was driving when speeding can lead to more trouble
•  How much a speeding ticket could cost you in the UK
•  What happens if someone else was driving your car and got a speeding ticket
•  If the police need to prove who was driving
•  Ways to deal with a speeding fine

We know that getting a speeding ticket can be scary and confusing. But honesty is always the best policy, especially when it comes to speeding tickets.

Let’s take the journey together to figure out the most suitable way for you to deal with this.

Do police have to prove who was driving?

No, the vehicle owner has to state who was driving at the time of the speeding offence. This is done when you respond to the NIP.

Lying about who was driving when speeding

Most of us know someone – or have heard about someone – lying about who was driving after receiving a speeding ticket. 

The most common story is a parent covering for their young son or daughter to prevent them from getting penalty points, which could increase their insurance premiums. Another common scenario is someone taking the hit for a loved one who already has penalty points and could potentially receive a “totting up” driving ban. 

But there have even been cases where people try to pin the blame on someone else who wasn’t driving, such as this story in Nottingham. 

Consequences of lying about who was driving on a speeding ticket

If it’s believed that you’ve lied about who was driving, you can be summoned to court and could well receive the maximum penalties for the speeding offence alone. 

The judge may also punish you for perverting the course of justice, which may come with an even greater punishment than the speeding offence, such as a prison sentence.

Should you cover for someone getting a speeding ticket?

The consequences of getting caught lying about who was driving are serious. There can also be unexpected consequences outside of a court hearing, such as the broken promises in this story:

Source: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2473461/points-on-licence-for-brother-insurance-help-please 

You should keep in mind that accepting a speeding ticket for someone else will have longer-lasting consequences on your own vehicle insurance. Your premiums could be higher for more than four years. 

And if you were to get more points, you could be disqualified from driving! 

How can the police prove who was speeding?

The police could potentially prove who was driving at the time of the speeding offence by consulting the images taken by the camera. 

Speed cameras are designed to monitor the speed of vehicles and capture number plates. They’re not primarily designed to capture the identity of the driver at the time.

That being said, the cameras could easily do both in many cases. If your case is looked into or you end up taking the matter to court, a judge could use the camera footage and other evidence to decide who was driving at the time. 

What if someone else was driving my car and got a speeding ticket?

Any time someone is caught speeding, the police send a Notice of Intended Prosecution to the vehicle owner as per DVLA records. 

Within the NIP there is an opportunity for the vehicle owner to disclose that someone else was driving the vehicle at the time of the speeding offence. At the same time, the vehicle owner can state that they were driving at the time. 

The above is done by completing a form and returning it within 28 days. It’s an offence to fail to return the form and could land you in boiling hot water. 

What to do if you are not sure who was driving when caught speeding?

Contact the police force that issued the speeding ticket if you aren’t sure who was driving when the offence was committed. 

Don’t let the deadline to respond to the NIP pass before doing this. Or you would be committing an offence yourself

Each police force might have a different process that could help, such as sourcing the camera evidence of the offence. 

There are several reasons why you might not know who was the driver at the time of the incident, such as:

1. Multiple people use the car at similar times of the day
2. Multiple people use your car and nobody has owned up to using it on the date of the offence

Escaping parking tickets is easier!

Escaping a parking fine is much easier than getting you or a loved one out of a speeding ticket. There is an easier appeal process and there are lots more parking ticket excuses you can use to win an appeal.

I discuss some of these parking ticket excuses in my new How to Appeal a Parking Fine guide. 

Lying about who was driving when speeding (Quick summary)

Lying about who was driving for a speeding ticket is very risky. Although many people might not get caught, the consequences of getting caught are huge. 

Not only can you be given the maximum penalties for the motoring offence, including a driving ban, but you could also be punished for perverting the course of justice. 

For this offence, imprisonment is possible but unlikely.

Have I missed your questions? Let me know today!