Free Traffic Legal Advice

It is not a motability car

I received an NIP for 38 in a 30 when travelling back to London from a holiday in Devon on Easter bank holiday. Lord knows how I was flashed as it was nose to tail traffic the whole way, but there we go.

I am the registered keeper of my car and have the V5 document in my name, issued a year before the alleged offence. NIP was received well after 14 days so I wrote back saying I am the driver, however I reject the fixed penalty since it's time expired. The next letter I receive is a Single Justice Procedure, to which I plead (online) Not Guilty and write an explanation about why (14 day time expired, I am registered keeper etc.)

The next letter I receive is from the police stating that they sent the original NIP to BMW within the 14 days and therefore did I want to reconsider. I did some research which suggested to me that the DVLA having the wrong address on file is not a defence. As such I changed my online plea to Guilty.

The next letter is receive is a court summons asking me to attend court in bloomin' Bodmin of all places as it's an Equivocal plea. I presume the online pleading system did not erase my not guilty defence when I changed the plea to guilty.

Now do I really have to drive 5 hours to Bodmin to get told I have 3 points and a £400 fine? It's very inconvenient and my wife will be 37 weeks pregnant. I will go if there's a chance I might not receive the points? But it really does seem like a monumental waste of time. Can I just write to them and tell them really I just want to plead guilty and takes the points and fine? Or is it too far gone now?

Any advice appreciated.

NB. I currently have 3 points so no risk of a ban.