Complaining About a Speeding Fine or Penalty Points
In the UK, you can be caught speeding in two different ways; by speed camera or by a policeman holding a speed gun at the roadside. If you get caught, you are hit with a fine and three penalty points on your license, unless you are ‘lucky’ enough to get a Speed Awareness Course in place of the points.
Traffic offences require a Notice of Intending Prosecution (NIP), which must be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. The NIP must arrive within 14 days of the offence to prosecute. If you think you have been ‘flashed’ and it is passed the 14 days then you are likely to be clear. If however you are stopped on the road a police officer, they can give you a verbal NIP and that is sufficient.
Contesting a Speeding Fine and Penalty Points
When deciding whether to take the matter to court, the prosecution only need prove that you were speeding. There are no such defences as you didn’t realise you were speeding, that speeding wasn’t your intention, or you were only a little over the speeding limit.Acceptable Defences Are:
- If you were not speeding
- If you were not driving at the time of the offence
- There was no proper notice of the speed limit
- The vehicle caught on camera has been misidentified
The first step is for the registered keeper of the vehicle to send the section 172 notice back within 28 days identifying the driver. This is a legal requirement whether disputing the offence or not, under Section 172 Road Traffic Act 1988.
Afterwards, you may receive a conditional offer of Fixed Penalty Notice for a fine and 3 licence points. You may wish to write an informal letter of Appeal to the address on the notice at this stage as they are accepted in some circumstances. Detail the reason why you should not be liable for the fine. You can also check your local police stations guidelines for this.
If the police issue no official appeals option or in the event that they reject your informal appeal, then you will have to choose whether to accept the fine or dispute the ticket formally. To do this, you'll need to request a court hearing by completing the relevant section of the Fixed Penalty Notice, and attach a statement of mitigation. Send this to the address on the 'request court hearing' slip and you will receive a summons. Before you do this, you need to understand your chances of winning your speeding case, and the possible consequences of losing it.
Contesting a Speeding Fine in Court
It is advisable to seek advice from a motoring law solicitor who can help weigh up your chances of success. When you receive your summons to court, you’ll also receive a Plea and Mitigation form to complete and return before the hearing date. You can either choose to plead guilty but with mitigating circumstances (this can sometimes be done on paper out of court if you don’t face disqualification from driving) or plead not guilty. If you plead not guilty, you will give your plea at the first hearing and be asked if you wish to call any witness at trial. You’ll be given a new hearing date and time to set out your defence with your solicitor.Requesting Evidence
You can request the police’s evidence against you before the hearing which can then help you to build a defence for your case. Examples of requiring evidence are if you believe the police have misidentified the vehicle or have got an incorrect speed, or if you cannot remember who was driving.At Court
When at court, the prosecution have to prove that you were driving the vehicle and that you committed the alleged offence i.e. that you were speeding.If you are found not guilty, that is the end of the matter and you are free to leave. If however, you are found guilty of the offence, there is a chance that the fine and penalty points may be increased. Magistrates have the power to impose a fine of up to £1,000 (or £2,500 if you were speeding on the motorway), between 3 and 6 penalty points on your driving license, and a possible disqualification if you were driving more than 30mph over the speed limit.
For advice on fighting a speeding ticket, contact a motoring law specialist solicitor.
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I’ve received 3 Points on my license for speeding 24mph on a 20mph Speed Limit.
Points last for about 3 to 4 Years or can affect your insurance for up to 11 Years.
I’ve attended schooling and College for a total of 20 to 25 Years to become a Qualified Plumber. Points on my license affect and disrupt my life and everything I’ve trained Years for. I would like to sue Metropolitan Police for £500 000 to £1.2 Million if I’m unable to live work and pay my Taxes for all I’ve trained for.. Because Insurance can leave a stigma for 11 Years.
Bear - 20-Nov-24 @ 6:45 AM
I’ve received 3 Points on my license for speeding 24mph on a 20mph Speed Limit.
Points last for about 3 to 4 Years or can affect your insurance for up to 11 Years.
I’ve attended schooling and College for a total of 20 to 25 Years to become a Qualified Plumber. Points on my license affect and disrupt my life and everything I’ve trained Years for. I would like to sue Metropolitan Police for £500 000 to £1.2 Million if I’m unable to live work and pay my Taxes for all I’ve trained for.. Because Insurance can leave a stigma for 11 Years.
Bear - 20-Nov-24 @ 6:20 AM
I’ve received 3 Points on my license for speeding 24mph on a 20mph Speed Limit.
Points last for about 3 to 4 Years or can affect your insurance for up to 11 Years.
I’ve attended schooling and College for a total of 20 to 25 Years to become a Qualified Plumber. Points on my license affect and disrupt my life and everything I’ve trained Years for. I would like to sue Metropolitan Police for £500 000 to £1.2 Million if I’m unable to live work and pay my Taxes for all I’ve trained for.. Because Insurance can leave a stigma for 11 Years.
Bear - 20-Nov-24 @ 6:18 AM
Recently got a speeding ticket, police used cctv to catch me momentarily going at 35 in 30 zone down a steep hill.
Ironically the next day they’re asking people to help them find a set of temporary pedestrian crossings that had been stolen the next on the same bit of road
Lock - 3-Jun-24 @ 7:59 PM
I am just surprised when I saw an unexpected / unfair 6 points penalty in which my soul does not know about and has no history in my mind. I don't even know where to complain, I started from this stage so you can help me.
R NIKPOUR4 - 9-Aug-22 @ 11:45 PM
Driving through a road block up a hill missentrepreting road block, no police controlling incident, at bottom of hill , not officer directing traffic to manage incident, I missentreprated , situation of road closure looked like middle hill was closed of so drove up hill no officer directing traffic to stop no warning signs not to travel up hill, no officers directing traffic sitting in cars,said I was driving with out due care and attention, iwas not it was Alistair as round not blocked of and officers not divering traffic away from incedent
Fossil - 24-Jan-21 @ 6:59 PM
I got a speeding fine and then another one a couple of days later both said the same speed 27 in a 20 zone both times I didn't notice it was 20 because I had not been down those areas for a while and last time they were 30mph you would think they would realise this also they put wrong postcode on one does this make any difference does anyone know
Lala - 29-Nov-20 @ 12:34 AM
Hi can anyone advise I had a NIP through as a cyclist has accused me of driving inconsiderately I’ve been offered a driving awareness course. Is it possible to ask what evidence there is to back this up before accepting a course. As ironically I pulled over to help a boy that had fallen of his bike.
Phil - 21-Nov-20 @ 7:21 AM
I have 9 points on my licence for speeding which i never knew about.
How do I dispute this?
Taz - 2-Dec-19 @ 10:04 AM
Wish there was help for people that been done for speeding even though council admitted it was there speed sign up was done for 33 and there was sign up at 40 so went to court did me 740 pounds for speeding treated me like piece of scum didn’t want to see myevidence of prof of sign even though left few people of for wrong sign but took me to court not working so didn’t take any one with me cos could not afford it disgusting how police treated me didn’t give a toss and they were laughing to after was how can they treat you like that terrible
Huntingfox - 25-Nov-19 @ 2:35 PM
When I renewed my car insurance I received a letter informing me I had failed to disclose 6 penaltie points I stated I have never received any points I checked the Dvla and it showed a speeding on motorway 6 points and £120.00 fine i were at work on the day in question were never on motorway I part exchanged my car 3 weeks prior how do I go about getting the points removed any help appreciated roger
Dudleyboy - 14-Oct-19 @ 3:14 PM
Hi
I have received speed plenty tickets
And after one day I received another ticket
The first ticket I was sure I was driving my car and I replied by accepting it
Second one I wasn’t sure I thought it’s mypartaner
So I have given her details and she replied by confirm that she was driving the car at that time
But she received photos from police saying that she should check carefully as the photo not typical to what she said
The the photo showing she wasn’t the driver and actually I was the driver at the time as well
So we don’t know what to do
Any advice please.
Thanks
Azeem - 4-Oct-19 @ 11:20 PM
Wobblybob, the same has just happened to me, same road , doing 36. The National speed limit is clearly approaching and streetlights had ceased this is clearly not very fair and cat hing what I would say are drivers who have not got the necessary information to drive at the appropriate speed. Have you done anything else about it?
BigDog - 29-Aug-19 @ 2:01 AM
I’ve just discovered 3 points on my licence for an offence committed on the 4 June 2018. A day I wasn’t even in my car as I took the train to work and sat at my desk all day. Not only that, but the penalty office is in an area I’ve never even been to as I lived the other side of the country at that point in time. How do I get the evidence of the offence as I have no idea what this is for?
Flossy - 23-Aug-19 @ 8:46 PM
I was about to renew my car insurance last week and they said they can’t as there is something around licence that needs to be reviewed. They told me to go on the DVLA site and that’s where I saw 4 points and a £440 fine endorsed in March 2018 (clearly it hadn’t been there as I had carried out my car insurance in July 2018 with no issue) what’s happened is all the paperwork sent it to a different address where the house number was correct but the postcode was slightly out. The court told me this after going around the houses. Hence me not receiving at all. The court called me and the options are My options are 1) make a statutory declaration I knew nothing of this as you can see they sent to a wrong address. Not sure if that then starts the process again. 2) I can’t remember the name of it. But where I fill in a form that had I known about it I would have pleaded guilty and then it starts again or 3) Appeal to the crown court - that the thing is unfair or the fine or etc. I’m not sure what I should do.
Can anyone help?
Jimmy - 2-Aug-19 @ 5:28 PM
I was about to renew my car insurance last week and they said they can’t as there is something around licence that needs to be reviewed. They told me to go on the DVLA site and that’s where I saw 4 points and a £440 fine endorsed in March 2018 (clearly it hadn’t been there as I had carried out my car insurance in July 2018 with no issue) what’s happened is all the paperwork sent it to a different address where the house number was correct but the postcode was slightly out. The court told me this after going around the houses. Hence me not receiving at all. The court called me and the options are My options are 1) make a statutory declaration I knew nothing of this as you can see they sent to a wrong address. Not sure if that then starts the process again. 2) I can’t remember the name of it. But where I fill in a form that had I known about it I would have pleaded guilty and then it starts again or 3) Appeal to the crown court - that the thing is unfair or the fine or etc. I’m not sure what I should do.
Can anyone help?
Jimmy - 2-Aug-19 @ 10:41 AM
I was about to renew my car insurance last week and they said they can’t as there is something around licence that needs to be reviewed. They told me to go on the DVLA site and that’s where I saw 4 points and a £440 fine endorsed in March 2018 (clearly it hadn’t been there as I had carried out my car insurance in July 2018 with no issue) what’s happened is all the paperwork sent it to a different address where the house number was correct but the postcode was slightly out. The court told me this after going around the houses to find out who to call. Hence me not receiving at all. The court called me and the options are My options are 1) make a statutory declaration I knew nothing of this as you can see they sent to a wrong address. Not sure if that then starts the process again. 2) I can’t remember the name of it. But where I fill in a form that had I known about it I would have pleaded guilty and then it starts again or 3) Appeal to the crown court - that the thing is unfair or the fine or etc. I’m not sure what I should do.
Jimmy - 2-Aug-19 @ 10:39 AM
I just received NIP for driving at 58mph on 50mph route towards the Dartford tunnel northbound. Never sped before, nor was I aware of any camera or the fact that the route in question was limited to 50mph, I was on a route where it was 50 earlier on and then it became national speed limit, but I didn’t see any other sign after. How do I appeal this? Can anyone please advise? How can word this in an official statement?
Enzy - 25-Jul-19 @ 12:09 AM
Further to my earlier comment on Wighill Lane, Wetherby, UPDATE, Since checking out my SP30 speeding offence I have found out that a Speed camera has to be visible to an approaching Motorist From 60 Meters when the Speed Limit is below 40 MPH ? This law was changed in 2001 yet in small print at the bottom states you will still be Prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit, This Camera that caught me was not visible until you had passed it and then could only be seen by looking through the rear view Mirror owing to Trees and Bushes there was also no warning signs on my route warning of speed Cameras being in force ! I sent my concerns to the Agency /Police Morley, Leeds, and they replied 'Usually' the same speed applies on leaving one road to another unless Sign posted to inform otherwise and that my comments had been noted, Very good of them No name or police number to follow up any action to rectify !, So I will be contacting my MP to start asking questions. Also for those worrying of Insurance premiums increasing surprisingly I have just entered my regular Fully comp details on a comparison site with my SP30 added and it came back £6 less than the premium I payed last Year ? surprised yes.Worried NO.
wobblybob - 7-Jul-19 @ 7:57 AM
Travelling from Tadcaster West along Wighill Lane NSL 60 mph I turned off onto Thorpe arch trading estate on the first exit left, After having a llok around the estate I drove along an Unnamed road 'Road 5' towards the British library all clearly marked 30 mph and street lighting which also indicated a speed limit !, I arrived at a Juction with a triangular Halt sign which I stopped looking straight ahead there was a sign arrowing Wetherby to the Left and a wagon weight limit sign pointing in my directional route, I rejoined Wighill Lane to head back to Tadcaster with no sign nor lamposts/street lighting and thought I had rejoined the NSL of 60 mph, I was travelling at a leisurely pace with being retired and nothing to rush for then approx 200 meters from the junction there was a slip road on the opposite side of the road entering the VOSA headquarters, on this slip road was a small circular disc with 30 mph at this moment I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a monster of a Truvello bio directional speed camera instantly banging my feet on the brake pedal and looking at my speedo which was reading 42, 7 days later I received the nip. I instantly payed the £100 and accepted the points, I have sent an Email asking for the Almighty powers that be if they could check out my route and pointed out my fear of any other innocent motorist being caught in the same trap !, I do not have the interest in driving any more nor the inclination to fight the almighty in the ivory towers and will trade the cost of motoring for a FREE Bus Train Pass where I can sit all day on the most polluting of vehicles for up to 17 hours per day with no more worries of speed traps, car parking fees, hospital car park fees etc, There loss not mine.
wobblybob - 1-Jul-19 @ 12:55 PM
Hi, I have just received a Notice of Intended Prosecution for driving at over 30mph recorded by an automatic camera. The notice has the date of the offence as 18/06/2019, but the time as 00:00 and my speed as 0mph. I did drive on the road it states on that date, but the notice doesn't have a time or state how fast I was going.
Should I send a letter of appeal when completing the s172 statement, as surely I can't be prosecuted for driving at 0mph?
Thanks
Knighty - 27-Jun-19 @ 3:53 PM
Myself and my wife done last October 2018 took both of us to court my wife first she was found guilty and 3 points and 750 fine treated her disgusted treated her terrible police hadbarrister she didn’t cos could not afford one she didn’t stand a chance theypenalised her so walked all over her had loads of.Evidence Even though police lied in court wasn’t man that done her was there even though he said it was but she had picture of him hiding in the bush but didn’t want to known done on 23 may 2019 loads people had there tickets void hadevidence and letters of this and sign had job number back of it and was legal sign feel really bad way been treated with no help of anyone if we had plenty of money we would no point appealing even though been told I would win it but wife can’t go to court again cos really upset her I pleaded guilty and I had fine for 400 pounds cos didn’t have money to plea not guiltycos fine my wife had police treated us really bad lost all faith in them now few people gone to court about sameoffenceBut I haven’t heard anything probably I won’t
Huntingfox - 13-Jun-19 @ 11:07 AM
Done last year for speeding would accept it cos when driving there was a legal 40 sign there on the post no sign 30 anywhere on the road took me to court found guilty fine of 740 pounds 3 points even though loads people had there ticket void on same road got lot of prof but they were not interested doing 35 so under 40 sign advice would be great can’t appeal haven’t money to do it cos not working full time carer for my daughter
Loopylou - 13-Jun-19 @ 10:47 AM
I have just received a NIP from the Welsh Police, for going 3 mile an hour o er the limit on the A55 in Wales, I know for a fact there are no fixed camera's along the stretch of road and neither myself or 2 of my work colleagues have seen any police what so ever with speed guns, are they using unmarked cars with camera's in? If so isn^t thatnot right and if they weren't wearing a uniform they cannot do that either , so they will be getting a phone call tomorrow and I want absolute proof it was a fact I was speeding
Nik - 30-May-19 @ 9:27 PM
I got a speeding ticket and sent all relavant paper work off regarding that it wasn't actually driving but my by. Unfortunately I didn't send the letter recorded delivery and the courts never received it. So I then got another letter with a court date and a form to fill in online. So filled in the form and the date came but had to ring and re arrange due to illness of child.Then missed the 2nd date due to elections and having no childcare. I have now received a £876 fine and 6 points on my license.
is there anyway to appeal this??
I did send in the information required
emmzies - 9-May-19 @ 4:47 PM
Got a speeding fine for doing 90 on the motorway. My fault, 100% was me, i knew it at the time. Got the usual notice through, first offence, 3 points and £100 fine. So obviously i paid it! However about 5 months later, the £100 fine went back in to my account. After searching, i realised they had done it because i hadn't sent my licence off to get the points added on. Nowhere was it clear that this is what i needed to do. Because of this, it went to court. So i obviously pleases guilty, and the fine went from £100 to £245, followed by a letter saying that they didn't need my licence to be sent off. So now, without sending my licence off i have got the 3 points added to it! The point here is, why did they send my fine money back, to send it to court, to get the same outcome, to then over double the fine and put the points on without my licence being sent in anyway!? Seems ridiculous. I would understand if i had of had a reminder letter to send my licence off, but nothing.....
DV - 1-May-19 @ 3:34 PM
Police in Scotland gave me a NIP ticketv3 points 100 fine for doing 43 in a 30 zone . There was no way of seeing them or there speed trap and unmarked car as they were hiding down a street to my right concealed by a big wooden fence about 10 feet and in an unmarked car . Is it entrapment ? Do they have to make themselves visible by law or ? they had hi viz bibs traffic cops but not visible to me driving towards them in there silver bmw in Dundee Watch for them folks in Drumgeith road they hide up Montpellier Gardens nearing ballumbie road going towards michelin Club ..
Sarah Moss - 28-Apr-19 @ 5:54 PM
I had fixed penalty few days ago cos of my speed. I knew there is a camera but my friend had and attact in the car (he has flash back illness) he had fight with his wife and I did want to make him calm . But in the car he had a serious attact. I did panic and made speed . I had to drive fast him to take him to hospital . I while later he was fine but I had already photo taken by speed camera so can you tell me writing a letter to police
Selma - 7-Nov-18 @ 9:43 AM
Hi.We all have a story regarding draconian speed limits & the misuse of the cameras etc. Now these so called `smart motorways' are about to get everyone doing 72mph & with total misuse of the red (say) 40 or 50mph limits when there is nothing for miles is 100% wrong… My question is how can we the motorist complain & actually start a campaign or something to stop this highway robbery ?
The Governments total misuse of these draconian speed limits & cameras is unfair & totally wrong .But how can we get it stopped. Its raking in £millions for the Government but ruining our lives & livelihood's? How can we earn & pay tax`s if the Government is hellbent on taking our driving licence of us all.?
stevenm - 22-Aug-18 @ 9:43 AM
I have received a speeding fine & would like to know if I have a case against it.
The road going in to York from Sim Balk Lane which is the A1036 Tadcaster Road is not signed as 30 mph from where I join it. When I leave my village of Bishopthorpe which is signposted at 30 mph I pass a national speed limit applies sign . On joining the road in to town which runs across this road out of the village (A1036) I do not pass any signs to tell me it is 30 mph. I have lived in this area all my life & travel the road at least twice a week now & at one time every working day in the past for many years. I always treated this road as a 40 mph zone as it is not a built up area. Street lighting is there however not consistent on both sides of the road & also obscured by extremely large trees running the length of the road. One set of traffic lights on the road at the Cross Keys slows traffic as it should however when you have passed through them the road again opens up with the racecourse to the right. I have asked local peoplewho I have known all my life & many have not realised the road to be 30 mph limit. It is not signed as 30 mph. I believe this road needs to be to avoid travelling above this. Not all drivers who passed there test 40 yrs ago ore more realise that the extremely loose rule of street lighting to be an indication of a 30 mph zone. Why can it not be signed at 30 mph & where does the 30 mph zone start when coming off the A64 dual carriageway in towards York? It is not clear.
I have a speed limiter on my car which until I enter a 30 mph zone or a dual carriageway I have set at 40 mph. The speed cam van was parked literally 100 yards through the traffic lights mentioned where I suspect many many drivers were checked at 35 to 40 mph as I was.
Road Tax, Petrol & cars on a whole are expensive enough without tricking the public into paying fines for loose rules & bad signage.
The point is though, do I have a case of appeal against ths fine?
Geoff.
Geoff - 19-Aug-18 @ 4:16 PM
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