Free Traffic Legal Advice

Thankyou! Yes I’m going to do that.

I’m going through the online form for that and I just want to make sure I’m choosing the right options.

So for “did you make a plea for the original offence” there’s two options. “yes, I made a plea but I think the decision was unfair/the judges failed to consider my circumstances or all the evidence available” the other option is “no, i didn’t know about the original hearing or was unable to make a plea” is the “no” option the better one considering my situation?

If I click yes for the above, the follow up question is “did you get the chance to give an explanation of the offence to the court”
Do I pick “yes- but I want to appeal the decision made” or “no- I was not able to speak or write to the court”. To avoid choosing the option with the word appeal in it, I was going pick no.

If I pick no for that first question, then it takes me straight to a new question “do you think the court decision was unfair. Do you want your case to be reopened” to which I want to click yes.

The next bit: “are you challenging the court finding that you are guilty or the outcome (sentence) of the original hearing. Or both”. Bit clueless which to pick here.

It then asks me for more info on the plea and why I believe I did not commit the offence if I’m pleading not guilty. Then a separate section asking me to make pleas for more than one offence if applicable. For both these sections I’m assuming I just repeat the explanation about laid in the alternative and them not recieving my response etc. and nothing extra.

Many thanks as always!

Thanks for everyone’s advice. I sent the letters back pleading guilty for the speeding and not guilty for the s172. I’ve just seen on the government website that last week they’ve given me 6 points for “failure to give information as to identity of driver MS90”. So confused what’s happened there. It’s made me even doubt that I’ve filled in letter correctly. Do I just take the L and pay the fine (£660 !!) or do I dispute this? I’m so lost and frustrated. The laid in the alternative thing didn’t work?

I've just received an SJPN in the post today for a speeding offence that took place in September 2025. I was going 61mph in a temporary 50mph zone on the M4.

They end of September they sent a NIP to my old address with a further reminder letter in October to that same address. And now, 6 months from the date of offence I've received a SJPN with 2 offences: speeding and failure to provide drivers details (s172)

I've read through the paperwork they've sent me and there's a section that states: "If your summons contains 2 offences, they are 'laid in the alternative'. This means that if you choose to plead guilty to one offence and not guilty to the other the magistrates will only adjudicate on the offence to which you have pleaded guilty and the offence you pleaded not guilty will be withdrawn.

Where there are 2 offences in the summons, and you choose to plead not guilty to both the case will be adjourned at the first hearing. You will then be notified of a trial date. You will have to attend the trial to give evidence in person."


I was unaware that I had to update my V5C and the address has stayed the same on there since I bought the car and had assumed that if I update the address on my drivers licence when I move house (which I have done twice since then and kept updated), it automatically updates DVLA too. I only realised I have to update my V5C in November 2025 and I did it right then. Now my V5C has the correct address but it didn't at the date of the offence. I do want to take responsibility for both of these offences, however to avoid getting 9 points (!!!) I'd like to take on the "laid in the alternative' deal they've mentioned. I've read through multiple other questions on here with the same situation and people haven't mentioned about this. I wasn't sure if they've just missed it or it's a new thing on my paperwork?

I do appreciate that it is my fault for not updating my V5C, and so I'm concerned that if I choose not guilty for this offence in my response, once they read my explanation, they won't withdraw it and I'll end up with 9 points (on top my existing 3 points, I'd have 12 in total and basically lose my licence for 6 months). I don't want to do the wrong thing here and get myself in more of a pickle. I really don't want to drag this on and go to court either.

Is it the case that the offence I put not guilty just gets automatically withdrawn because I've admitted to the other, even though technically I am guilty of both? Is it likely/common practice for them to drop the s172 in these cases? what would be the best action here?