There are certain exceptions, the most common of which is that no warning is required is if there has been an accident. If this happens to you, the first you will often know is when you receive written notification that a car with your registration plate has committed a driving offence, not paid parking charges, etc. The messages are certainly of interest to the public and, given the insights they provide into how government (and the media) dealt with the pandemic The fact that you disagree with the allegation does not mean that you are entitled to withhold information in relation to the identity of the driver if it is required. Advice for motorists who have received notices of intended prosecution. Are there any defences to not complying with a NIP? Instead they sometimes say that they are warning you that you may be prosecuted (for example) for a contravention ofsection 2orsection 3of the Road Traffic Act 1988. If you see errors that relate to your name, address or date of birth, you should correct them. What if I do not know who the driver was? The first, and most usual, is where a motorist has been captured by a speed camera. It is also common for the police to charge you with one offence and warn you that you may be prosecuted for another. WebA Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is a notice issued by the police that informs an individual that they intend to prosecute them for a motoring offence. Near misses may constitute accidents but it will depend on the precise nature of the event. The confusion arises because the two matters are often included in the same letter. Instead they sometimes say that they are warning you that you may be prosecuted (for example) for a contravention of section 2 or section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Typographical errors can generally be disregarded, however more fundamental errors can bring the case to an abrupt end if challenged at the correct stage of proceedings. WebNotice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) Section 172 notice You must return the Section 172 notice within 28 days, telling the police who was driving the car. A written Notice of Intended Prosecution must include the nature of the alleged offence and the date and place it was alleged to have been committed. Therefore, it is rarely a good idea to ignore the NIP. WebIf the police believe that you have commited certain road traffic offences, they must issue a Notice of Intended Prosecution ( NIP ). For example, if there is no record of the registered keeper on the DVLA database it may not be possible for the police to send the letter out in time, Fixed penalty offer of 3 points and 100.00 fine, Court proceedings by way of Single Justice Procedure (SJPN) or postal requisition. There are certain exceptions, the most common of which is that no warning is required is if there has been an accident. Under s2 (1) Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, if an accident has occurred this dispenses with the need to serve a notice of intended prosecution as the accident itself is deemed to put the driver on notice that they could be prosecuted. Here's a list of what you need to do: 1. A motorist caught on speed camera should receive a written warning, for example. According to section 1 of the Road Traffic OffendersAct 1998, the 14-day limit means the Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) needs to be served onthe registered keeper of the vehicle within 14 days. If a car is registered to a limited company, or the company is the customer of the lease company the NIP will be sent to the limited company. that there are exceptions to this rule. A Section 1 warning is not required for every alleged road traffic offence. Issues such as jurisdiction, time bar and competency can be complex and can have a significant bearing on how the case proceeds. We always advise that you should do everything you can to identify the driver and provide all the information to the police that you have (including names and addresses of potential drivers). The matter will be referred to the magistrates court if you ignore the notice. A notice of intended prosecution issued by post must identify the time, date, place and nature of the offence. CONTRAVENING TRAFFIC SIGN, SIGNALS & ROAD MARKINGS. There are a number of reasons why you may not have been issued a notice in the post within 14 days. If it was the other way around, however, you could only be convicted of careless driving. If you receive a requirement for information and do not know who the driver was at the time of the alleged offence, it is essential that you take advice from a specialist motoring solicitor. of prosecutions for certain offences. WebIf a camera has detected an alleged speeding offence, a Notice of Intended Prosecution will be sent to the registered keeper together with a request for driver information, within 14 days. It is another matter, however, if your name is completely incorrect. It is very common, therefore, for the driver to receive his own warning after 14 days has elapsed. References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsements of any websites or other sources. So, for example, someone is seen by civilians driving in an allegedly dangerous manner. If you have incurred 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your driving test, your licence will be revoked. A Notice of Intended Prosecution is usually sent with a Request for Driver Information. WebIf you want to appeal and go to court. As addressed above, under DCF policies adopted in 2011 that remain in effect today, DCPP is required to accept and investigate all reports and referrals of child-on-child sexual abuse and child-on-child The registered keeper has a separate legal obligation to ensure that this address is kept up to date and the NIP will be considered legally served if sent to the address recorded on the registration certificate (log book) for the vehicle. The police sometimes do not always use the words speeding or careless driving or dangerous driving. The emails claim that GMP are notifying you about a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) and have photographic evidence that you failed to adhere to the speed limit at specific date, time and location. We are road traffic law experts. All of our legal team formidable and committed trial lawyers.They have featured on TV, Radio and National Newspapers and have represented fellow solicitors, advocates, barristers, Queens Counsel, sports stars, members of the Royal Family and even police officers. The information provided on this website is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief. What is the charge? However it is clear that of real significance must occur and, often, near misses may constitute accidents. the make & registration number of the vehicle; the date & time when the alleged offence was committed; and, you cannot identify the driver nor anyone who potentially could have been the driver; or. WebThe Ohio Attorney Generals Office and the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy launched a $15 million pilot program to help fund continuing professional training (CPT) for law enforcement officers in 2022, per the biennial operating budget passed by the Ohio General Assembly in summer 2021. No. In situations such as this, the authorities may request you to provide proof that: If you are unable to prove that the driver is insured, you may still be prosecuted for failure to furnish driver details or Permitting No Insurance. If you have received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) we know that you will be worried and you will want to check whether or not it is legally compliant with the requirements of Section 1 Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. If the recorded speed was too high for a speed awareness course (10 % above the speed limit + 9 mph is the usually applied threshold) then a fixed penalty may be offered. The civilians report the matter to the police who visit the accused 10 days later. The main exception is if there is an accident. This occurred early last week at approx 3.00am on the Monday morning! For examaple the police may charge you with speeding but warn you that you could be prosecuted for careless or dangerous driving. In those circumstances there is no need for a warning. Therefore a driver MUST receive either a verbal warning at the time of the alleged offence or receive a written notice of intended prosecution within 14 days. You must comply with a NIP within 28 days. It is important to note, however, that only the registered keeper requires to receive such a warning within 14 days. It is settled, therefore, that being charged with dangerous driving at the time of the incident will also fulfil the purpose of a section 1 warning. 2.01. This is made clear in. 1.Failure to Appear. North Yorkshire Police have received reports of the scam whereby people are being emailed with false Notice of Intended Prosecution letters (NIP) regarding alleged speeding offences. We have the highest satisfaction rating of any road traffic firm in the UK. Do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this email or in any attachment without the permission of the sender. The driver has left the country. RECEIVED COURT PAPERS FOR A MOTORING OFFENCE? They do not, however, require to do both. speeding). There is no legal obligation to respond to a Notice of Intended Prosecution. It is also common for the police to charge you with one offence and warn you that you may be prosecuted for another. WebThe police send thousands of notice of intended prosecution (NIPs) and requirements to provide driver details (s.172 requirement) every day. If the company fails to comply with the NIP for any reason whatsoever, it is likely to be prosecuted. A Notice of Intended Prosecution is usually sent with a Request for Driver Information. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR LICENCE IS REVOKED BY DVLA, The offence for which prosecution is being considered (e.g. A Notice of Intended Prosecution (also known as a section 1 warning) is a warning issued under section 1 of the Road Traffic (Offenders) Act 1988. Eg, if the NIP was sent to warn of prosecution for speeding, but the requirements were not met, there can be no speeding conviction. The police must issue the Notice of Intended Prosecution to either the driver or registered keeper of the vehicle within 14 However in certain circumstances the Crown may be precluded from obtaining a conviction. Time of the offence is not defined by statute and it is, of course, impossible for such a warning to be issued 100% contemporaneously. NOTICE - This email and any attachments are solely for the intended recipient and may be confidential. (4) Schedule 1 to this Act shows the offences to which this section applies. While a degree of latitude will be allowed, however, the evolution of the law makes clear that such warnings must be issued soon after the alleged offence 24 hours later, for example, will be too late. It is for the accused to prove that he did not receive a warning (or the correct warning). The letter is simply a base-covering style letter sent out irrespective of the seriousness of the alleged offence. It has to be sent within 14 days of detection of the alleged offence and has to specify: the nature of the alleged offence date and time the alleged offence happened the place the alleged offence happened. In order to identify the driver committing the offence, police must also usually serve a Notice of Intended Prosecution to the registered keeper of the vehicle concerned within 14 days of the offence. do nothing at all & make no written response; or, return it validly completed but outside the prescribed time limit; or, the additional offence of failing to comply with the NIP. If you have an option to reply electronically or, online then that is a better course of action. That person should then identify you as the driver. This is because dangerous driving and careless driving are statutory alternatives by virtue of section 24 of the Road Traffic (Offenders) Act 1988. The information below will provide you with advice on how to complete the form within your letter, as well as some frequently asked questions. It can be in oral or written form and we say more on this below. The police may also obtain the details of the directors of the company and issue separate documentation on them where the company does not cooperate with its requests for information. In that time, I received a Notice of Intended prosecution for running a red light. If the police have stopped you at the roadside and charged you with the offence of Speeding in Scotland or Dangerous Driving in Scotland, it is likely you will receive a verbal section 1 warning. If, however, you are the registered keeper and you receive a written Section 1 warning after 14 days have elapsed then the prosecution against you may be fatally flawed. In those circumstances a verbal warning will not suffice. When you receive an NIP, it doesnt automatically mean that you are going to face prosecution, it is a warning that you may face In those circumstances a verbal warning will not suffice. WebA notice of intended prosecution is issued to every motorist if there are allegations of speeding. The police officers who want to be armed are perhaps the ones who should not be police without prior notice to Hancock or to any of the third parties with whom Hancock messaged. You will usually receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) if there is an allegation of speeding offence and you are the registered keeper of the vehicle in You must report the collision no matter who was at fault. Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), I have a notice of intended prosecution on official-looking paper, but it doesn't ring true. Finally we deal with some frequently asked questions. WebThe first indication a vehicle has been involved in a road traffic offence is the receipt by the registered keeper of a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), combined with a requirement to provide details of the driver. You may have to go to This is usually determined by whether you have been stopped by the police or not. Can the NIP be issued to a limited company? Because dangerous driving is a more serious offence than careless driving you have not been prejudiced by the warning. That person should then identify you as the driver. You will be regarded as not having complied with a NIP if you: The NIP should give sufficiently clear information to: The enquiries you should make of yourself & others include: Causing Death or Serious Injury By Dangerous Driving. The NIP can be given verbally by the police at the time of the alleged offence after a vehicle has been stopped. The letter is simply a base-covering style letter sent out irrespective of the seriousness of the alleged Speeding in Scotland offence. What exactly is a NIP? If the vehicle was not stopped at the time it may be served by post on the registered keeper of the vehicle within 14 days. The time limits are the same irrespective of the offence. It can only be issued at the time of the offence. Seek legal advice straight away. Have you received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP)? An international one stop spoofing shop has been taken down in the UKs biggest ever fraud operation, led by the Metropolitan Police. In very simple terms, it is a document that provides sufficient notice to the registered keeper or the driver of the vehicle that they may be prosecuted for a driving offence. One will suffice. They do not, however, require to do both. It is a warning that a driver may be prosecuted for a certain offence/offences and may be in oral or written form. WebCriminal Forms. So, for example, someone is seen by civilians contravening a solid white line or witnessed undertaking or tailgating, all classic examples of careless driving in Scotland. WebNotice of Intended Prosecution; Section 172 notice; They, or in the case of a company vehicle, the company secretary, must return the notice within 28 days telling the police who was driving the vehicle. Research in 2016 showed that one in 12 cars on UK roads could have cloned registration plates. You will receive the NIP within 14 days after the alleged crime. "Failure to provide", attracts a 6 penalty point endorsement. However a warning for careless driving will not suffice in respect of dangerous driving as the latter is a more serious charge than the former. a red light), careless driving, dangerous driving or using a mobile phone whilst driving. Without Due Care And Attention ( Careless Driving ), Professional Drivers Hackney Cab & Private Hire, How To Get Your Case Reopened in Magistrates Court, Totting Up Points Ban/Exceptional Hardship, Section 1 Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. The offences to which it applies are found inSchedule 1 of the Road Traffic (Offenders) Act 1988. It should also be noted that the burden of proof lies with the accused. If the vehicle within which the alleged offence took place was registered to another person or company there is technically no need for a notice to be issued to the driver. WebIf a camera has detected an alleged speeding offence, a Notice of Intended Prosecution will be sent to the registered keeper together with a request for driver information, within 14 days. It should also be noted that a section 1 warning does not require a particular form of words. What if it was not my car caught by the camera? So, for example, someone is seen by civilians contravening a solid white line or witnessed undertaking or tailgating, all classic examples of careless driving in Scotland. They are that you: You should also plead not guilty if you returned a validly completed NIP within the prescribed time period but, the Police say your reply was not received. Cloning happens when someone uses the same number plate that is registered to your car to avoid paying fines, road tax, insurance or engage in criminal activity. It should also be noted that the burden of proof lies with the accused. A person charged with Dangerous Driving in Scotland cannto be convicted unless, subject to certain exceptions, they have received a timeous warning that such a prosecution may occur. (3)The requirement of subsection (1) above shall in every case be deemed to have been complied with unless and until the contrary is proved. It should also be noted that the burden of proof lies with the accused. This is perfectly competent but it can also create confusion. If the police believe that you have commited certain road traffic offences, they must issue a Notice of Intended Prosecution ( NIP ). Copyright Roadtrafficlaw.com Solicitors Ltd (c), A Notice of Intended Prosecution is a warning issued to persons suspected of certain road traffic offences. But most Police forces do so. In short, a notice of intended prosecution is a letter from the police that informs you that they are considering prosecuting you for a driving offence. This is because the letter usually also warns the driver that they may be prosecuted for Dangerous Driving in Scotland or Careless Driving in Scotland. In those circumstances there is no need for a warning. If the police receive an admission from the person to whom the NIP has been issued that they were driving at the time of the offence there are three ways the matter can be progressed: If the offer of a speed awareness course is refused, the driver may accept a fixed penalty if one is available or alternatively they may elect to undergo Court proceedings. Contact us if you think it should be reopened. However there IS a legal obligation to respond to a requirement to identify the driver. Call us at 0151 601 3743 and get a free initial consultation. In such a situation, if you were driving and wish to challenge the allegation the best course of action will almost certainly be to confirm that you were the driver and to elect for the matter to be subject to Court proceedings. The same time limit applies for Dangerous Driving in Scotland as for Speeding in Scotland or Careless Driving in Scotland. It would be best to get legal advice as to the exact basis on which you are going to contest the charge & the evidence that you and/or others may have to give. Please note that this includes being given a verbal Notice of Intended Prosecution by a Police Officer on being stopped at the time of the alleged offence. A limited company facing this charge should seek legal advice as to how the failure to comply with the NIP can be explained & more importantly, what measures have been taken to avoid a recurrence. PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. As amended through January 27, 2023. George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building - 600 Commerce Street, Suite 103, Dallas, TX 75202. Within the same letter will be a requirement to identify the driver. I suspect it is a scam. It is for a speeding offence on a motor scooter which yes, we own, but it was nowhere near London when the alleged offence took place. What will not suffice, however, is a verbal warning and/or charge delivered, for example, the next day. A. Sec. A Director or, possibly a Fleet Manager should complete & return the NIP identifying the driver making it clear that they have authority to do so. WebThe Ohio Attorney Generals Office and the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy launched a $15 million pilot program to help fund continuing professional training (CPT) for law enforcement officers in 2022, per the biennial operating budget passed by the Ohio General Assembly in summer 2021. The Notice is simply what the name suggests. It can be in oral or written form. However, if there was a number of possible drivers you should include in response the names, addresses and dates of birth of them all, explaining why you are not sure who the driver was. A Notice of Intended Prosecution is exactly what it says - a warning that the driver of the vehicle is being considered for prosecution. If the requirement to provide this information is not complied with, a summons may be issued for failure to furnish information contrary to section 172 Road Traffic Act 1988. In our experience, the police tend to be honest about such errors and the necessary evidence can be obtained in cross-examination. The two issues, although contained in the same letter and relating to the same incident, are quite separate. If a driver fails to respond to such a requirement then he can still be charged with a contravention of section 172 which carries a punishment of 6 penalty points. It is for the accused to prove that he did not receive a warning (or the correct warning). What will not suffice, however, is a verbal warning and/or charge delivered, for example, the next day. Accident is not defined in the legislation but High Court rulings have made clear there dies not necessarily need to be a collision or damage. They are normally sent out when there is about 7 days of the original time limit remaining. WebA Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), also known as a Section 1 warning, is a warning issued under Section 1 of the Road Traffic (Offenders) Act 1988. If you do not comply with a NIP & have no defence, your licence will be endorsed with 6 points & you will face a variety of financial penalties, including a fine. While this may seem a decision with no risk of repercussions, you cannot be certain of that. This is made clear in, Therefore a driver MUST receive either a verbal warning at the time of the alleged offence or receive a written notice of intended prosecution within 14 days. Motoring Offence Lawyers Ltd is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Company number: 7497109. WebNotice of Intended Prosecution - Alleged driving without due care and attention Ive got home from work today and have received a notice of intended prosecution from West Mercia Police. It is a warning that you may be prosecuted for a certain offence or offences. Any action taken at this delicate stage is essential to your chances of avoiding or minimising penalty points in the future. There are several factors on your possible disqualification from driving including the severity of the offence and whether you have penalty points on your driving licence. WebTo satisfy legislation under Section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 the Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) has to be served within 14 days of the alleged offence on the Registered Keeper of the vehicle. The validity of a complaint depends upon a number of factors. If, for example, the police charge you with Dangerous Driving in Scotland, the charge also constitutes the Section 1 warning. The law surrounding Dangerous Driving in Scotland and notices of intended prosecution is, therefore, a complex area of the law for which specialist legal advice should be sought. It is a warning that you may be prosecuted for a certain offence or offences. I have received an endorsable fixed penalty ticket and need to send my licence off but I am going on holiday and need my licence. But they are not usually sufficiently serious so as to invalidate the Notice. How long do the Police have to issue proceedings? But dont take our word for it. 2023 Notice of Intended Prosecution.org, Schedule 1 of the Road Traffic (Offenders) Act 1988, Careless Driving (Road Traffic Act 1988, section 3), Dangerous Driving (Road Traffic Act 1988, section 2), Speeding (various sections of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984), Failing to comply with traffic signs (Road Traffic Act 1988, section 36), Drink Driving (Road Traffic Act 1988, section 5), Failure to Provide a Sample (Road Traffic Act 1988, section 7), Causing death by dangerous or careless driving (Road Traffic Act 1988, sections 1 and 2B), Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition (Road Traffic Act 1988, section 40A), Driving while using a mobile phone (Road Traffic Act 1988, section 41D). One will suffice. It will give you an idea where the offence took place and which court area will be dealing with the case. This could be money spent on petrol, refreshments etc. You legal obligation to respond applies irrespective of time limits or whether you were the driver. WebThe purpose of a notice of intended prosecution (NIP) is to inform a potential defendant that they may be prosecuted for an offence they have committed, whilst the incident is still The time limit for a written warning is 14 days from the date of the offence. The most common offences for which a warning is required are: Some common offences which do not require a Notice of Intended Prosecution include: A section 1 warning takes two main forms oral or written. What can I do? WebWhat is a notice of intended prosecution? can you identify by reference to any diary where each person was at the relevant time; check mobile phones for the day in question (and earlier) to see if there are text messages, calls etc that may shed light on the whereabouts of any potential driver; check visa & credit cards to see if any of the potential drivers spent money on the route in question on the relevant date. If it is not or, if DVLA mistakenly provides the wrong address to the Police, this does not give you a defence to a charge of not complying with a NIP. the offence of Speeding in Scotland) often cause a high degree of alarm. Under s2 (3) Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, an exception to the requirement to serve a notice of intended prosecution may apply if the police are unable to trace the registered keeper of the vehicle within sufficient time to serve it within 14 days. ), Patterson Law Limited is a law firm authorised and regulated by the. The purpose of the NIP is to ensure that sufficient notice is given to the registered keeper or the driver of the vehicle that they could be prosecuted whilst events are still fresh in their mind. You must still comply with a NIP received late & then argue the point when the case comes to Court. This does not invalidate the warning. In practice the police will usually do both provide a verbal warning of intent to prosecute and caution and charge the driver. the driver could have been one of a number of people but, you are not sure exactly who it was; where family members are involved in a long journey, often going on holiday & take turns to drive but have no recollection of who was behind the wheel when the speeding offence was committed; or, the car could be driven by more than one employee & no log was maintained to record who drove each vehicle on any specific day; or, where work colleagues share the driving on a long drive allowing each the opportunity to relax or deal with emails on their phone.