Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Speeding and other criminal offences => Topic started by: gladiator779 on July 26, 2025, 04:27:33 pm
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You're welcome.
Good result. Thanks for letting us know.
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Hi just as a followup to this, the court agreed with the suggestion instantly. Annoyingly I’m paying around £600 but I got away with 3 points instead of a much worse outcome.
Thank you! @NewJudge !
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Thanks a lot for the replies that’s really reassuring to know and I hope it goes well! Thanks again.
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Unfortunately some courts have clerical staff who are not properly trained to deal with things as they should be dealt with.
In your case, the staff handling your case have probably been trained to respond to a “not guilty” plea by sending out what sounds like a standard letter that you have received.
As I said, some courts will require the driver’s attendance to negotiate this arrangement and it’s simply their way of getting you there.
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Does this mean things are not going as expected and I might be convicted at the end? Thanks.
No... But it just means you'll have to attend court to perform the plea bargain. (There is no evidence for you to submit - you are offering to plead guilty to the underlying offences if they will drop the s172 charges)
You may be able to seek out the prosecutor prior to your hearing.
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@NewJudge I plead not guilty however I received now a letter asking me to present to the court and bring evidence. Does this mean things are not going as expected and I might be convicted at the end? Thanks.
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Thanks a lot for the info and your time. Will follow this advice.
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Then you should respond to the SJPN by pleading not guilty to both charges. In the ”mitigation” section you should offer to plead guilty to speeding but only on the condition that the FtP charge is dropped. This is a procedure well known to all court users (prosecutors, magistrates and their legal advisors) and is carried out up and down the land daily. I’ll refer to it as “the deal”.
Before the pandemic it was necessary to attend court to undertake this deal and speak to the prosecutor (the agreement of the prosecutor is required as the court cannot accept it without that agreement). However, during the pandemic most courts accepted a written request to do the deal. Local police prosecutors made an agreement with their courts that the magistrates’ legal advisors could accept the deal. In some areas this arrangement has carried on.
This will still see you with a speeding conviction but will avoid the much more damaging conviction for Failing to Provide Driver's details.
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Yes it was me.
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Were you the driver at the time of the speeding allegation?
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So I just received the letter mentioning about x2 traffic offenses:
- First: On 14/03/2025 at [CITY_2], having been required by or on behalf of the Chief Officer of Police [LOCATION NAME}, failed to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle, namely [PLATE NUMBER], who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence 'Contrary to section 172(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.'
- Second: This Offense carries Penalty Points On 10/02/2025 at [CITY_1] drove a motor vehicle namely [PLATE NUMBER], on a road, namely [NAME OF THE ROAD], at a speed exceeding 20 miles per hour - 25MPH in contravention of a Local traffic Order, namely [CITY NAME] City Council (Various Roads, Metropolitan District of [CITY NAME]) (Speed Limits) (Citywide) Order 2025., 'Contrary to the above Local Traffic Order and sections 84 and 89(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.' -
It's statement says "At 08:52 on 10/02/2025 at [ROAD], a motor vehicle [DETAILS] activated a speed camera, travelling at 25 miles per hour, the legal limit being 20 miles per hour. A combined Notice of Intended Prosecution/request under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 was served on the defendant within 14 days, requiring them to furnish details of the driver at the time of the alleged offence, the defendant being the registered keeper of the involved vehicle. This combined notice was sent on 12/02/2025 and by the 14/03/2025 they had not replied as required by the legislation to that request.
As a background, I moved houses mid novemember 2024 and changed my driver license address promptly. I didn't remember to change it too on v5 address till 14/02/2025. I didn't receive any of the above offenses on my current address and I suppose they were sent to my previous one.
What is my legal situation? I'm applying soon for citizenship and trying to avoid any negative marks at this important time. I'm NHS doctor for 6 years and have clear records. I had only 3 points on my driver license 3+ years ago (SP30).
Finally, do I need a solicester for this or a good written plea should be ok? Thanks in advance