Altered Number Plate

Question:

I was wondering if you could give me some advise on the following. I was recently stopped and issued a Fixed Penalty Notice (non-endorsable) automated number plate recognition fine for £60.

It is the first time I have been stopped for this offence. It was my father’s car and I had no idea he had put a little sticky black ‘dot’ in between the 11 to make it appear as an ‘H’. That aside, I was given this fine.

They also made me sign a piece of paper to acknowledge the receipt of a ‘DVLA’ document on how to display registrations. I thought it was a bit unfair that I get the document after I received the fine. Anyway, on the FPC notice the traffic officer forgot to put down my first name (even having handed him over my drivers Licence.) So this section is blank.

However the Penalty notice does show my surname and DOB. I was wondering as this is blank does the charge still stand as the form is incomplete? You reply (by phone if possible) would be very much appreciated.

Rob Says:

The fixed penalty if still valid even though he hasn’t written your first name down. The fixed penalty is just an offer to deal with the matter out of court – it’s not the officer’s evidence.

You should accept the ticket – if you take it to court the CPS could get nasty and suggest that the altered number plate was an attempt to pervert the course of justice. I think the police were generous.