Failing to name the driver
Your road traffic offence question: I was driving a company car, down the Ax, where the speeds change randomly. I was caught by a camera in a 50mph zone doing 70mph. The company have responded twice to requests for driver details, each time they say they do not know who the driver was, If we say that a third time will, I get away with it. or is there something else I can do
I was trying to turn right off the Ax at x to get home. The road signs indicated a right turn across the dual carriageway lay ahead. I was travelling at 50mph as there were speed restrictions due to road works. I indicated and pulled out into the fast lane . As I arrived at the right turn feed lane to the gap I was panicked to find it was coned off without any warning leaving me slowing in heavy fast lane traffic. I instinctively immediately accelerated out of danger. The camera is fixed at this point because it is known as a danger spot even without the dangerously misleading signs. In 2.8 seconds I was doing 65mph as I accelerated out of the potentially dangerous position I had been put in.
I wanted to plead not guilty but when the form arrived requesting the name of the driver it asked for the name of the driver “at the time of the offence” not the “alleged “ offence . I felt I could not possibly sign and agree there had been an offence if I wanted to plead not guilty so I rang up the Grimsby Ticket office and they said if I did not fill in the form I would be charged with a much more serious offence with higher fines and penalty points. I asked to be referred to a supervisor who confirmed the serious penalties for refusing to admit I was the driver at the time of the offence, so I was forced under protest to immediately fax my ticked form effectively acknowledging an offence had been committed whilst I was driving.
As I was moving into a new built house within two weeks and the post office did not have my new address and the new house did not have a post box I gave the officer my x solicitors details and my home address in x where I spend two weeks every month through my business. I was charged with wilfully obstructing the police . This was changed on the day of the hearing, (despite my strong objection), to wilfully obstructing a police investigating officer. I advised the court three times that I would be appealing on several grounds and I was warned by the Clerk that I was being disrespectful to the court, before they found me guilty of speeding (the magistrate said he could see no lorries in the camera picture) and wilfully obstructing an investigating officer(the magistrate said I could have had the form sent to my office (which did not have a mailing address because it is in a barn down a farm lane). My local x solicitor said he did not know the law on coned off right turns or on the matter of saying alleged offence instead of offence so asked to be excused representing me 30 minutes before the trial. I unsuccessfully asked for an adjournment. One key witness from the Ticket Office I had insisted attended the trial did not turn up. I wanted to cross question the two officers to prove I had been co-operative and they had been unreasonable and acted illegally in demanding I complete the form. . One officer gave evidence to the court that five credit cards were still registered to an old address he claimed was my current address. I had sold it three years before but had long stopped using the cards. I did not provide the temporary address I was in whilst I built my new house as I knew the police would try and serve a summons on the replacement tenant .
I have always intended appealing and have requested the forms from the court to appeal out of time but I was given serious financial problems as a property developer with three unsold houses when my bank withdrew all house developers facilities when they got into trouble themselves. The third house was sold recently and I hope I may now be able to afford to clear my name. The offence was in x 2008 and the court hearing was in x 2009. Is there clear law that covers such highway acts as coning off indicated right turns without prior warning signs. I have been unable to obtain definitive advice on the legality of being asked to provide the name of the driver at the time of an offence when no offence has been proved. The Clerk of the Court said it was for me to prove it is illegal.
Is the worst case scenario a £1000 fine for a company?
i made enquiries as to who the driver was and i was given a name of a foreign driver who was visiting at the time. i nominated this person on the reply form.
i did not give this person permission to drive my car and did not know he had taken the car until i made enquiries after getting the NIP.
the police have written to me offering to let me change the nominee driver or produce proof of insurance for the foreign driver.
i would like to repeat that i was not in the car at the time and did not know it had been taken.
what should i do and what is likely to be the response of the police? i am minded to tell them the driver did not have my permission but will the ask me to prove this? how do you prove a negative?
thanks
Your road traffic offence question: Hi,
Please could you advise on the following:
1) I received an NIP for a speeding ticket whilst driving a company vehicle in x 2006, the company I was working for dispensed the wrong address and I never received the NIP, it going to an address I no longer lived at. The DVLA did have my correct address during this time.
2) Around x 2007, I found out the DVLA had suspended my license because I had not replied to the original NIP had been found guilty of not supplying information and endorsed 3 points; and as I had not submitted my license for endorsement, it had been suspended. This came to light as I had had a routine license check with the company I was working for and was the first I knew about it.
3) I submitted my license and received the endorsement and my license was reinstated.
4) I thought that the matter had ended there but in x 2010 I received a letter from Her Majesty’s court revenue service for recovery of a £400 fine relating to this. I did not know I owed this amount and as I had not received the original NIP, had not been able to defend myself in the first place.
5) What should I do? I have requested a court date to explain this, and have been granted one on the x 2010. How should I approach this?
Your road traffic offence question: what is the likely outcome to be
this is a first offence made foolishly what could the likely outcome be
Your road traffic offence question: The allegation was that my car was in xon xbetween 1500 & 1700 hours, but neither I nor the car was in x, nor ever has been. How do one refute the allegation, i.e. what steps do I take with the Police to prove the fact that I, nor the car, was there.
Your road traffic offence question: Hi,
I was caught speeding by a mobile camera going 37mph in a 30mph speed limit. We recieved a NIP in the post for my husband as he is the registered keeper of the car. This notice came very late and I put it on the side for my husband to fill in my details. My x then picked up the letter by mistake and took it back to x with him as him. Once i noticed he had done this i called the camera partnership people straight away and explained. I asked them to re send me a copy so that we could fill it in. I told them at this point that I was the driver. I was told that if this copy didnt turn up within a week i was to call back. However, i received the notice and my husband filled it in and we sent it back. We waited and waited but i never received anything. So yeasterday i called the camera unit and asked them what was happening as i was still waiting for my form to fill in so that I could admit the offence and tie the matter up. The lady i spoke with told me that they hadnt recieved the notice with my details on it. Three or four times during this conversation i told her that i was driving and that to send me the forms in my name and i would pay the penalty. She told me that she could not do this as they had not received that declaration that I was driving. She then told me that they would send another notice in my husband name and that I should just fill that one in with my details and send back the fine. I pointed out that she should be sending my one in my name for me to put my declaration across and not my husbands as he was not driving the vehicle a the time of the offence. However, she stated that he would then have to go to court due to him failng to notify who the driver was at the time of the offence. Again i said to this women I WAS THE DRIVER. I asked why she couldnt take this verbally as the calls were recorded and i was accepting the liability. She just kept saying we can do nothing, you husband will have to go to court for failing to notify u s of the driver. I dont know where we stand with this. I do know that for the speeding fine they have to lay it before the magistrates within 6 months as it is a summary only offence. But what about failing to notify driver. I feel that we are having scare tactics used against us and I do not appreciate this as i am trying to admit liablity honestly, but they are not allowing me to do this. Is it legal for me to fill in my details on the form that is meant for my husband? Where do we stand? Thanks for your help.
Your road traffic offence question: received a summons yesterday for the above two offences. i did not receive nip, they have included in the summons a copy of both Nip and reminder that was sent to me. I have 3pts on my licence (previous points still on licence but over 3yrs old) I am worried about how many points they will give me for this and although I can see it was my vehicle in the photo and am guilty of the sp30 I did not get a notice to fill in my information. how do I stand and what is the best route to take?
Could you please provide me free legal advice on following matter :
I have received a Notice of intended prosecution to request information to identify driver of vehicle
My vehicle was recorded at 38 mph at 30 mph zone on x
I have a UK drivers license which 3 points on it (which I received still this year for a speeding offence) FYI, I did the speeding awareness course last year
My questions :
-If I put my friend from x down as the driver at moment of offence (she has a European license, driving for more then 10 yrs, I have all her contact details so can provide these) will they :
1. Ask for the travel documents or other proof of being at that place of offence on that date ?
2. Will her Insurance fee increase ?
3. As the Point system doesn’t exist in x, will they increase the fine or can we assume it will be the standard 60 £ ?
4. I checked my Insurance policy which only mentions my name and my partners name, obviously not her name, is that a problem ?
Looking forward receiving your answer
Your road traffic offence question: i have been sent a letter for speeding, i dont have any points but started a new job in which i need to drive in excess of 40,000 miles a year in my 3rd month of starting i got this letter doing 61 in a 50 on a motorway in a company car (other people can drive) this was average speed cameras at road works (not that there was any there ) how can i stop the points, driving course ? request a phote ? anything to help avoid
The situation is as follows
I was advised from work of a NIP for speeding in an area I do not normally cover.
The next I heard was a letter advising me that they had not received a reply from myself.
I immediately phoned x police and advised them that I had not received anything from them to reply to.
They then sent me out a duplicate set of forms which I filled in as far as possible but advised them that I was possibly the driver although I had no recollection of being in that area at the time of the offence since I work in the south of England. I asked if they had photographic evidence which would help me see if it was my works car and if so who the driver might be since the car can be used by my close family or if we had been out of area perhaps to a meeting could be driven not only by myself but by any of my colleagues if we were travelling together.
I received no response until after xmas this year when I received a letter advising me I had been fined for failing to provide details of the driver.
I contacted the court and they advised me to apply to have the case reopened. I did this and a new date for a hearing was set.
I then asked for an adjournment of this date following a fire at home. This was granted and a new date set.
I contacted the court the day before I thought I was due to attend to check on the time of the hearing. I was advised that their computer system was down and that they couldn’t advise me of the date of the hearing but it wasn’t the following day as I thought since I was not in the court list. They said they would phone me later that day to advise of the correct hearing date but failed to do so.
I phoned again the next day and was told the hearing was tomorrow. This caused me problems as I would have had to travel by public transport. I advised the court of this and they said I could apply for another adjournment by fax which I did explaining the circumstances.
I received a letter telling me I had been dealt with and fined and had points put on my license.
I wrote explaining that I thought this unfair as I had always stated my plea of not guilty as I had replied to the original forms. I heard nothing then received a bailiff notice. I wrote again by recorded delivery and heard the case was to be put back before the magistrates to be reopened.
This was refused.
I was asking to go to the camera office to identify the driver. I had telephone conversations and wrote to request this. Then I got a visit at haoe from local officers on x. I explained to them I would like to visit to identify. They took a note and went away. Now I have this notice. It states an offence took place on the day the officers visited.
I think they are being unfair. I was willing take the original fine and pionts but they advised I should be sure who was driving.
Your road traffic offence question: i dont know who was driving my car weather it was me or some1 else and the camara picture is of my car, you cant see eho is driving the vicheal. so do i have to take the points?
Your road traffic offence question: Is one legally bound to provide the name of a driver when served a Notice of Intended Prosecution for, say, exceeding the speed limit and photographed by a Gatso? This sounds like one has to incriminate oneself.
Your road traffic offence question: I was not the driver my car is insured any driver it belongs to my company and anyone can drive and i don know who was driving it at the time of the offence i asked to see the photo and they told me they could not make out the driver what do i do know
Your road traffic offence question: I have been issued with a NIP from x Police for an alleged speeding offence (39 in a 30). The problem I have is that both myself and my partner took it in turns to drive and at the time in question I was unsure which one of us was driving the vehicle. The area in which the alleged offence took place is unfamiliar territory and is definately not an area I would recognise again (x as we were returning from holiday back home to x). I requested a photograph, which I received today, but it only shows the rear of the vehicle and does nothing to enlighten me as to who was driving. I have written to x Police relaying this information and also filled out the required form but haven't given driver details as I am genuinely unsure who was driving. I received a letter today asking for proof of insurance for myself and my partner but I no longer own the vehicle as I purchased it on x 2010 and due to the fact that it has developed several faults (brake problems and a hole in the drivers carpet)I have returned it back to the dealer (x). I subsequently cancelled my insurance policy and I have no certificate of insurance relating to that particular car anymore as all the relevant documentation has been shredded. I have been in touch with my insurance company but they cannot issue a replica certificate as the vehicle insurance policy is no longer in existence. I am currently waiting for a replacement vehicle to be delivered from xand I am currently driving a hire car from x cars in x. I therefore have no further means of proving that both my partner and I were insured to the drive the offending vehicle at the time of the alleged offence. How would this defencce stand up in court do you think?
Thanks,
Your road traffic offence question: Greetings,
I have received a summons for an alleged speeding offence and for subsequently failing to provide info as to the driver at the time of the offence.
Upon receiving a reminder NIP (I did not receive the first NIP) I returned the form along with a cover letter stating that I was not the diver at the time of the offence and that despite reasonable checks I was not able to identify the driver. I provided in this cover note a list of persons (or organisations for which people work for) who may have had access to my keys/vehicle on the day of the offence and the result of enquiries I had made with these persons.
This letter however, does not appear to have arrived with police and thusly I am summonsed.
My queries are these: to what extent will the apparent non-receipt of my letter (and reminder NIP form) by the police prejudice my statutory defence of using reasonable diligence? Given that as far as the police are concerned I have not even attempted to furnish them with the required information will I be precluded from attempting the defence? What is the likelihood that the court will accept that I responded to the NIP notwithstanding the apparent non receipt by police?
I am able to provide a copy of the letter to the court and am in the process of re-sending this letter to police.
Sincere thanks for any assistance you're able to provide.
Your road traffic offence question: Hi Emma,
I received a NIP for a speeding (x mph zone) at the time my partner was using the car (my company car), he said the car was being driven by a friend his at the time of the offence so he completed the nip and sent it off. I have now received a phone call from the police the other day saying they could not find the locate/contact the person whos details have been provided on he nip and they need me to provide the correct details. I advised on the phone that nip was completed by my partner and they should spk to him, but the police said no they have to speak/deal with me on the matter, i was busy at the time so i told him i would call him back later, which i did but didnt get through so left a message asking him to call me back. I now have received the email from the officer dealing with my case:-
RESTRICTED - INVESTIGATION
Dear xxxxx,
Further to our telephone conversation today, we require the correct address and contact details of the driver you nominated as a result of the speeding offence committed on the x 2010 by the vehicle leased to yourself.
Our enquiries have revealed that as part of the terms and agreement of your use of the vehicle index xxxxxx you are able to let other people use the vehicle so long as they are in possession of a UK driving licence. Our enquiries have revealed that the person you nominated does not have a driving licence, does not exist or you have not furnished the correct details.
It is necessary to furnish the correct details of a nominated driver under the Road Traffic Act or further offences may be considered for investigation, please contact me with the correct details of the driver at the time of the offence.
Please be aware that I have contacted the company lease team today to advise them of our enquiries.
I look forward to your response,
Now if i provide them with my partners details who had the car at the time would that get me into more trouble? (i didnt lie the first time i just didnt know/think that i was responsible to ensure the details were correct) the police should sort it out with partner who was driving when the alleged offence was committed.
Your road traffic offence question: i lent the car to a group of freinds who were setting up there car boot stall and a camera flashed someone doing 37mph in a 30 mph zone i asked for the photographic evidence but it was no use i could not make out anything let alone the driver or passengers i told this to the police and they have sent me a letter saying i will receive a court summons in due course what else could i have done i dont know who was driving at the time i wasnt even in the same county.
Your road traffic offence question: I have been summonsed with both of the above offences. I provided details of my cousin who was driving. The police could not contact her, or at least didnt hear anything back from her. So i have been summonsed for both. I dont understand why or how they can do that? After all i provided the details and if they dont know it was me didving how can they summons for the speeding aswell?
Is it worth defending this.
We have a diary on reception that the cars are initially booked to those needing them- we have 5 pool cars staff take for meetings.
Then the keys are in a locked box in a drawer. When the perosn who has requested the car needs it they ask the receptionist for the key and they then tick the diary and fill in a car log with the make, reg, time in and out and their name.
On this occasion the driver hasn't entered any information.
Your road traffic offence question: The first I knew of this was when I received a notice in the post stating that I had not responded to an earlier notice that I did not receive so approx 45 days after the alleged offence. I asked for the photo evidence and calibration cert and was sent a small photo that did not clarify for me who the driver was and the calibration cert which was current. I eventually narrowed it down to either myself of my brother who look very similar. I had very little time to respond as the 28 day clock was ticking so I asked for more time to research the matter as I thought it was my brother but he claimed it was not. The matter was then passed immediately to the CPS for court proceedings. In the documents to the court a different photo was submitted in evidence. In this photo it showed the speed and the distance and also the presence of another vehicle next to the one registered to me. The distance was 178m. The calibration cert showed that the camera was only calibrated to 100m. My question is: was it competent for the police to issue the notice in the first place when the speed of 36mph was recorded at such a long distance away? If not then the notice should never have been issued as the speed could be inaccurate at that range and could have been interfered with by the other vehicle. In any event there is president for providing time extensions ( this was offered to my wife recently) and it seems unjust to prejudice my position by not offering me the same advantage?
Your road traffic offence question: hi i got this on the x i have asked for a photo and recieved it as it is unclear to who was riding the motorbike i sent another letter saying so and that it could have been a aquaintence riding not me but i was unable to give a name or an address, i have just recieved a letter back dated x thay are refering it to court can i now admit guilt and send in the notice of intended prosecution or will it now go to court, if i carnt give a name or address will i stil be prosecuted in court.
Recently I received a Nip as my car had caught in x photographed by a static Gatco camera doing 36 in a 30 limit. My partner had borrowed the car to drive to her work in x. I read the NIP carefully and looked at your site and read all the cases listed. My issues
1. I was reluctant to sign the NIP as I was not travelling with her at the time.
2. She is part of a car share scheme.
3. I did not want to assist the Police prosecute her
4. I did not want to provide a witness statement against her, especially as I was not a passenger in the car.
5. I was very unhappy that the evidence from the cameras was so arbitrary. How you judge the actual position of the car in the boxes from 48 feet behind the car beats me especially as the actual speed was marginal to “threshold speed”. The registration could not be read on any of the photos required an enhancement. Also the GOSAFE could not give the calibration as cameras units are rotated for calibration. They stated that they cannot say which camera took the picture.
6. All the high profile cases centred on the unsigned form/verbal communications and mainly with drivers using the loophole of not signing the form( inadmissible as evidence in court)
I returned the NIP completing the driver details etc dated but unsigned within 28 days, with a signed covering letter stating why I could not sign the letter as I was not a passenger in the car. My letter included my partners details requesting that they write to her.
7. It is clear than the position of the Unsigned Form was summarised in the Idris Francisv DPP March 2004 which stated in summary
- They stated that Yorke/Maudsley won their appeals and the judgement was a correct ruling as both drivers should have been cautioned that they faced prosecution if they did not sign the NIP. They would have been successfully prosecuted for not signing the NIP under S172(4) of the RTOC 1988. They ruled that the Chief Constable was acting reasonably in expecting the driver/registered owner to sign the form. As drivers, they could have written to the Court and their signed letter would have been admissible.
- They upheld the successful appeal in Bloomfield as they agreed that Oral evidence was inadmissible but drivers did not have to use the NIP in their reply. A letter was admissible.
- They accepted in Pickford that an unsigned NIP could be accepted as a voluntary confession where the driver and registered owner were one and the same.
- They ruled in DPP v Jones that the successful appeal was incorrect, which I had hoped to use as my defence. They ruled that the S172 (4)allows the driver to write to the Police but NOT the registered keeper. The Act requires the registered keeper to sign the NIP and cannot send a signed letter to the Police. The only part of their judgement which might afford me a defence is that the Police/GoStop failed to ask me to sign the NIP in 5 subsequent letters. They failed to caution me that a failure to sign the NIP would make me liable to prosecution under S 172(4). They repeated that I had failed to provide the drivers details, not asking me to sign the NIP. In Idris Francis, I believe that the clear warning from the Police that the form must be signed by the registered keeper was fundamental to the judgement.
8. I believe that the Idris Francis judgement closed the perceived loopholes for the driver and registered keeper. I am not aware of any more recent judgements.
9. As a final thought, why do the Police require a signed NIP when the registered owner has not committed an offence under RTOC1988 and has supplied the details of the driver? I do not understand why the Police do not send the NIP to the driver and stop the registered keeper having to incriminate the driver. I suspect that they need the keeper to finger the driver for a successful prosecution!!!!
I await my summons but I think the Idris Francis in the High Court should be posted on your site as a definitive Case Law. In the light of current withdrawals by Swindon on the basis that that static cameras have not added to road safety, the final judgement in IF in the European Courts is more questionable. Their judgement was based on the principle of the greater good( the loss of human rights was more than balanced by the Governments desire to reduce road deaths)Today they might have won their appeal.
Your road traffic offence question: Hi, my partner has recently received a letter with regards to a speeding offence and asking to nominate the driver at the time of offence. My partner is one of several people who have constant use of the vehicle which is registered in his name. Having returned a letter advising that he does not genuinely know who was driving the car at the time and to request a copy of the photo taken from speed camara in question. Photos were sent with no clear picture of the driver and a letter attached advising if no-one is named the onus and blame falls on the registered owner of the vehicle. Is this the case? My partner has time sheets from work to prove he was working at the time of the offence which he uses a differant vehicle for ( works van ) . Will he still be presecuted for an offence he has not commited. Would it be worth asking for the calibouration of the camara? Thanks in advance for your reply
Your road traffic offence question: I was supposedly caught speeding by average speed cameras in x a year ago. I received a letter saying that I had not responded to a NIP within 14 days but I didn't receive one to respond to! I wrote back and they sent a NIP sixty days later, I contend that the police failed to serve notices within 14 days so I wrote back asking for advice and telling them of these facts. I wrote to the police and CPS but received only letters, nothing constructive. In the end, eight months after the alleged offence I received a summons for failing to supply the name and address of the user of the vehicle. I again wrote but to no avail. The matter was adjourned a few times, I wrote and told the Magistrates that I could not attend at x court because of the 400 mile return journey and that I suffer from painful spinal arthritis. I enclosed all the letters that I had written regarding the failure to supply an NIP for their information and stated that I would accept their decision, assuming that they would read the letters. It now appears that I have been convicted and fined over £600.00 with 6 penalty points. I spoke to the legal advisor who had been in court that day, she told me that the prosecution were allowed to speak and present the case but the magistrates did not even read my letters. I thought that they would hear all the evidence including my letters but apparently, because I was not there, they ignored all my letters and only listened to the prosecution. I was not aware of this or would have made efforts to attend. I wish to appeal the conviction and this time I will attend and make sure that my side is put. What do you think my chances of success are? I have never been in trouble for even the slightest matter before and I am in my sixties with an unblemished record. All I was trying to do was prove that the police had failed to serve NIP's.
Thank you
Your road traffic offence question: We received a fine approx 7 days ago for this offence . Which was dated x
also as i am the registered keeper they have my Middle wrong they have put D and it is P as you can image we were shocked as we couldnt put down the driver so my partner put her self down as the driver on the day but really not sure we both are named drivers
Any advice would be greatfully received
Your road traffic offence question: i donot dispute this offence,but my q is this .on the x2010 i recevied a notice for this traffic offence,i filled it in on the same day ,put a first class stamp on it and sent it back.however on the x.2010i received aletter from the royal mail inside was the traffic offence notice that i had sent 4 weeks earlier,on the envelope royal mail had ticked the refused box that was on the x2010(the stamp had fallen off)my question is royal mail only sent it back out to me on thx2010 and i received it on the x2010 thats 4 weeks .because of this it has taken me over the 28 day deadline to pay the fine,are they liable?
Your road traffic offence question: I received a ticket in a works pool car, they sent the notice within 9 days,
work then requested evidence which we received, I was then identified and conformation was sent. This was in x, I then received nothing to my home address, until this a letter was received by work about not identifying the driver, basically saying they never received the letter. Is their any way this can be used to my advantage? This will put me on 9 points within 3 years, since working for this company, I'm currently on 6. Thank you.
Does this give a me a defense in court - I'm not gonna deny it was me driving because it is only ever me who drives my car. My previous address where the log book was registered, is still my parents house, so I'm assuming that the courts wont believe that the post wasn't forwarded to me. My parents are getting on a bit (late 70's) and tend to throw anything out that is not addressed to them but I was staying over when the reminder came and I saw the envelope with my name on it. Does the period of time between the speeding incident and me recivieng the reminder make the charge invalide or is it still likely that I will get a huge fine and points on my licence.
By the way - I was doing 36 in a 30 zone, in an industrial area with no road speed signs and no sign saying this is a speed watch area. This is supposed to be about public safet but the police have been hiding along this road for the last 5 years and no traffic calming measures have been put in place or speed signs.
Its is just unbelievable people driving with no lisence and no insurance get of lighter then this this punishment is similar to those who take the police on high speed chases endangering lives, yet I have no criminal record no points i work for the comminuity yet this is what happens to me, totally heart breaking.
I wrote as follows to Wiltshire Constabulary:
"Dear Sir
I am the registered keeper of xx07xxx.
My mother died in x on x 2010. My wife and I drove to x from our home in Surrey on x to start making various arrangements. We visited the Hospice , then the Funeral Director in x, then the Registrar, then back to the Funeral Director, and then on to my mother's former home in x. My wife and I shared the driving throughout the day.
As I am sure you will appreciate, it was a traumatic day in an unfamiliar location and we do not know who was driving at the time of the alleged offence. The photograph on your website is inconclusive. Please provide any further photographic evidence which you may have.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely..."
The response was:
"x
I note your comments and offer my sincere condolences for your loss. I have accordingly re-checked the film but there is no
view of the driver as the photograph has been taken from the rear of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the cameras used by the Partnership are not designed to obtain clear views of drivers but primarily to identify the vehicle and registration mark. These photographs are available to view on-line by following the instructions on the reverse of the notice sent to you. The website
also has information relating to the site which may be of use to you.
You are advised that it is the responsibility of the registered keeper of the vehicle to provide the identity of the driver at the
time of the offence.
Section 172(2) of the Road Traffic Act, 1988 places a duty, on any person required to do so, to provide such information
in that persons possession as may lead to the identity of the driver of a vehicle where that driver is alleged to be guilty of an
offence. Section 172(3) goes on to state that a person who fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (2) shall be
guilty of an offence.
Where the person who fails to supply the information required on a Section 172 form is an individual, the penalty on
conviction is similar to that that would be incurred for the original traffic offence, i.e. a fine, not exceeding £1,000, and
endorsement of the driving licence with six penalty points. The only defence is where the person of whom the
information was requested is able to show that they could not, with reasonable diligence ascertain the drivers
identity. The question of what amounts toreasonable diligence will be considered on its merits by the adjudicating court
in each case.
If you are unable to ascertain the identity of the driver of the vehicle at the time of the alleged offence, this matter will be
referred for process by way of a summons for failing to provide information as to the identity of a driver. In such
circumstances it will then be for the court to give consideration to any reasons that there may be for not being able to
identify the driver and to adjudicate accordingly.
Regards..."
My question is:
if my wife and I genuinely cannot remember who was driving (because "it was a traumatic day in an unfamiliar location"), is it worth defending on that basis or does "reasonable diligence" suggest that we MUST be able to work it out? (This is nevertheless rather a circular argument if, due to the circumstances of the day, we in fact cannot remember.)
Many thanks!
It is strange that I did not receive anything from the DVLA as well. I want to reopen the case. I am not contesting the offence but because I think that there is some disconnect and I have been punished unfairly I want to take this step.
One thing that is causing me concern is that the number plate of my vehicle that is subject of this speeding was stolen in x 2005 and it may be that someone else has registered another vehicle in DVLA using my number plate and that this is leading to the problems of mail not being sent to the right address. Or there is some issues with Royal Mail. It is unlikely that this is the case as no other post delivered to our house has gone astray and it is only the post related to this offence and the subsequent proceedings. However all the offices are saying that they have been sending the post to the right address.
But as this has happened twice I seem to be trapped and feel that there is no recourse. I am highly suspicious that something is wrong somewhere but I feel frustrated that it is difficult to prove. Most likely it appears that the address that is transcribed from DVLA when the process atarts is wrong and that then gets transcribed in subsequent correspondence. I am going to ask for the copies of all correspondence from the police and the courts. Any advice on this will be highly appreciated.
Thanks.
I believe that my wife was driving at the time and have written to the Ticket Office and told them.
They have now written to her, and she blames and has told them that it was me....
Now what? Do I just admit it?
company vehicle and no one would lay claim to have been driving at this
time, a request was made for photographic evidence.
Unfortunately the evidence was inconclusive so further correspondence was
forwarded requesting guidance on what the next course of action was.
To this we received no reply and foolishly thought that was the end of the
matter. Then a summons was received notifying my husband xx of an
intention to prosecute for with holding the name of the driver.
The paper work was completed and a plea of not guilty was lodged. In the
statement to court it was made quite clear that it had never been the
intention to with hold any information, we simply did not know what the next
step was. We also high lighted the fact that closer control is now in force
over who is driving company vehicles when.
This was duly sent off and another summons was received for the x re
the not guilty plea.
By this point I was beyond frustration and anger at how this situation was
proceeding and sent another very heated letter stating that we wish we had
of just lied in the beginnig and said one of us as The Directors of the
company was driving to save all the stress, and we wished now wish to admit
liability to the original driving offence.
Another summons was received changing the date to the 8th June. We were
under the impression this was in relation to the red light offence.
When my husband arrived at court, he realised it was for the with holding
offence and was advised by the prosecutor to plead guilty as if he did not
and was found guilty it would be far more serious. This has now resulted in
6 points on his licence and a £500 fine!As he has 6 points on his license
he is sailing very close to disqualification.
My husband drives for a living (he is a x) and can not afford to
carry points for offences he did not committ.
I would be grateful of your advice as to whether we have any way to turn.
I wish I had of just put my details in right back at the beginning!
The speedo on my car recently started to stick and jump. sometimes it sticks at lower speed than shown by TomTom. Have got photo evidence of this sticking.
We suspect this may be cause of offence. Is this a valid defence if not speeding intentionally or should one of us admit liability ?
Being the keeper/driver of a MOTORCYCLE 'PIT BIKE'
Registered number Unregistered the driver of which alleged to have been made guilty of an offence to which section 172(1)Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended applied, in CHURCHILL WAY, BURTON LAIMTER at the time of: 13.45 on the: 2ND day of : JUNE 2010,
and has been required to state the name and address of the driver of that vehicle on the occasion mentioned.. Failure to comply etc.
My son had already sold this bike before the 2nd June, to someone else. It is not a registered vehicle and I am wondering exactly how he stands in relation to this. He knows who was riding it, but is just 17, birthday today, and the person in quetion is older than him and he is frightened of him and fears that if he tells the police who it is he will in his words "get his head kicked in". The police brought the form by hand to the door, but at no time has he been spoken to by a policeman/woman only a CSO. He is feeling rather frightened by the thought that he could be beaten up by the person in question and very intimidated by the police. I am wondering exactly what his rights are in this case and whether he could in fact incur a £1,000 fine and 6 points on his licence.
Thank you very much for taking the time to look at this, and I am most grateful for your time.
Many thanks
We would be grateful for your advice. We both have a clean driving licence.
Many thanks.
Any advice?
On the morning in question, more than one person was driving my vehcle - the time of alleged offence it could have been one of two persons. The notice does not advise in which direction the vehicle was travelling. Am I in order to ask for photo evidence to identify who was driving and ask in which direction vehicle was travelling?
What happens if photo then unclear & I am genuinely unsure who was drving?
Thanks
A speeding fine was posted through the door, the incident happened when we were on holiday south of the UK. We had to take the information as face value as the incident was too far away to investigate whether the road for its legitimate speed limit, road layout etc. once we returned home.
As it stood, my wife and i could not remember exactly who was driving on the day of offence as we rotated on driving duties while touring the area.
As such, we requested photographic evidence which proved useless because it was back of the car.
I then phoned the speeding company to determine how we find out the driver of the offence, to which i was told the owner of the car must always know who the driver is at all times regardless and could penalise the both of us. The fear of 6 points and £1000 plus extra court costs scared the both of us so one of us took the flak of 3 points and £60.
The first question is would we have had a case to argue in court in the first place to determine the driver and second question is it still possible to appeal to look further into it?
Many thanks
Thank you
I should also add that the original N.I.P. states in writing that the penalty for Sect 172 is up to £1,000.00 fine and ONLY 3 (not 6)POINTS? Despite this they continued with several adjournments and then convicted my husband of Sect 172(£525 fine 6 POINTS).
I work for a company and on the day in question we took both our vans to the same job.
both our vans are the same in colour as well,but also the registration of each van is y, x and as myself or the other driver cannot remember which van we used what happens next?
My boss put my name down as the driver but she has no record written that it was me she just thought it was me no doubt as the other driver was her son that helped her descision!How does the law stand on this?as she can say who was driving the vans but not 100% sure who was in what van.
Dear Emma, this is on behalf of my daughter who suffers from medical conditions.
The police photographs do not show the driver, but she has written stating she is the registered owner but cannot recall who was driving as her Husband also uses the car. They both work within half mile of each other and depending on eithers work pattern it could have been either of them driving. She has informed the police that it is probably, rather than possible, one of them. But having checked diaries etc neither of them can recall which one may have been driving.
My daughter had a NIP’s but now the police have sent a NIP’s to her husband!
The NIP’s states going thru a red light.
My daugther is reluctant to say it was either of them as naming the wrong person is an offence in itself.
This is not about the fine or points its about my daughters fear of perjury (and nowher husband finds himself in the same position
Can you advise on this please
On the date in last December I am unsure who was driving (there are 4 of us on the insurance, and it is a busy A road). The photograph is unclear. None of the others will admit to the driving. I have written to Sussex police, and provided them the others names and addresses, and insurance details, but they are now prosecuting me for both offences.
Please can you advise?
The road the speed camera photographed my car on is very close to my home. It is the street the local shops are on and where we buy bread almost everyday. My parents use my car as it is parked on the street and is quicker for them if just popping down the shops than getting their cars out of the garden. I have viewed photos on line but they were no help. Asked police for copies of photos to see if we could see who was driving better. I have now been told I am going to be taken to court. We have tried to remember who had the car at the time but can't. Don't we get a time period to try and assess who it was? I filled in part 5 and signed part 6. Was I wrong to sign part 6 as I have now been told the matter will go to court. We did not get copies of the photos.
This in my opinion would be perjury?
I have to attend a hearing at 11.00 am Wed 21-4-2010 in order to plead. how would you advise me.
I signed an oath at the Probate Registry in Liverpool which was timed and therefore could support my claim
Any advice will be useful and much appreciated.
what can i do?
shuld i sand the stuff again?
I received a letter for an intention to prosecute from Warwickshire Camera Enforcement Unit for driving 59mph in a 50mph zone. I asked for photographic evidence to help me identify the driver. I promptly received a letter stating that there wasn’t such evidence and I needed to supply the name and address of the driver. I wrote to them and stated that I believed it was my step brother who had been here on holiday. Again a swift response advised me that because I had not filled in their form and had written them a letter they would pass a case onto the courts. I called them and they gave me 2 weeks to fill in their form confirming who the driver was. I filled in their form with the name and address of my step brother. They again promptly wrote back stating that they checked and no insurance cover was on my vehicle for my brother on the day of the offence and said if I do not it will result in court proceedings. My argument is the car was taken without my knowledge. Also they are asking for evidence that my brother was in the country such as flight tickets or a stamped passport? I have 10 days to respond from today.
I'd like to ask the following questions - The summons has added 'Thomas' as a middle name and has an incorrect Date of Birth. Is it still valid?
- If they never received the signed NIP how do I plead on the summons as I dont want to go to trial.
- How do I prove I sent the signed NIP?
My husband and myself drove the car in that week and we are genuinly unable to awnswer the NIP correctly. What can we write.One more question it is alleged the speed was 17 MPH and the time into the red was 1 Second can there be any discretion?
I never received letters of speeding offence there for could not give information,Maybe post strike might have caused it
I am in serious need of a solicitor because I am being tried for failing to provide driver details for a several speeding offences which occured in 2009 and for which I received FP's which all have been paid. However I lost my job and house which resulted in me living on the streets for a while and not getting the summon to appear in court so the court now has prosecuted me for not providing driver details. I recieved a note for an arrest warrant and contacted the Enforcement Officer who gave me a new date for the 26th of March 2010. I went in and the court was adjourned because I said I never received the notice because I was on the streets. My new date is 29th of April 2010. I dont know what to do! Please help!
My wife has twice been sent a form to provide the name of driver for an alleged fail to stop following an accident. However the car was not on the road that night. The person making the allegation has obtained our number as a suitable scapegoat some time later (our car has old dents). Her defense is not covered in the statutory ones, what should she do?
Van registered in the company name.
2 possible drivers on the day in question.
Both vehemently deny driving.
I cannot prove who is lying.
How do I complete the form please??
i had a hire car in my name another guy used it to travel home and back to work a speed camera clocked him speeding i got a speeding ticket sent it back but must have filled it in wrong got another one and gave it to the driver to fill in and return i may have had another ticket same offence and gave it to him again got the summons to appear in court so i got a signed confession of him and posted to the court now i have a letter notice of fine and collection £525 fine fail to drive ID £15 costs & £65 speeding fine what do i do next as i was not the driver of the car at the time of the offence