Speeding is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. If a car is caught speeding by a speed camera or police officer, a ‘Notice of Intended Prosecution’ (NIP) outlining the details of the offence is sent to the registered owner of the car. The owner is required to declare who was driving the car at the time of the offence by filling out a ‘Section 172 Notice’. Failure to respond to this notice is an additional offence.

The police may choose to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) to the driver which is a minimum £100 fine and three licence points. The driver may be offered a driver’s awareness course in lieu of the licence points, depending on the speed they were travelling and if they haven’t completed a course within the past three years, but there is no legal entitlement to a course.

For drivers who have significantly exceeded a speed limit, the matter will be referred to the Magistrates’ Court in the first instance. The maximum fine a driver can receive on conviction is £1,000, rising to £2,500 if they were caught on a motorway.

Our specialist motoring law solicitors at Nicholls & Nicholls are able to advise on how to address speeding offences, whether you wish to dispute an allegation or appeal an FPN. We can also provide representation in court to ensure the fairest outcome in relation to sentencing.