Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all,

I'd really appreciate some advice.

I received a SJPN for a speeding offence.

Offence:

- 13/01/2026
- 46mph in a 40mph limit
- Metropolitan Police

I am not disputing that I was speeding and I admitted being the driver.

What is confusing me is that I believed I had complied with the fixed penalty process.

The timeline is:

- I returned the driver nomination form.
- I provided my driving licence number on the form.
- I signed the form and identified myself as the driver.
- I paid the £100 fixed penalty.
- The payment was later refunded on 12/05/2026.
- I have now received an SJPN.

I actually received two speeding tickets at the same location with days of each other. I paid one online and one via post. Both payments were taken but it was the posted letter that hasn't been endorsed.

The witness statement says:

"The Fixed Penalty was paid but they failed to provide their licence details for electronic endorsement and a refund was requested."

However, I have a copy of the form showing my driving licence number was provided. It's as clear as day. I haven't received mail regarding the "refund" but my statement says it was refunded 12/05/26.

I currently have 6 points on my licence and am concerned about being disadvantaged financially when I believed I had complied with the fixed penalty process.

My questions are:

1. Is there any argument that I should receive the equivalent of the original fixed penalty disposal?
2. Does the fact that I provided my licence number and paid the fixed penalty assist me?
3. How should I respond to the SJPN in these circumstances?

Many thanks.

Have updated the "READ THIS FIRST" post.

N.B. Your timeline is gibberish.

I have read the read this post first.

Really?

Having re-read the COFP section, I now realise I completed the driver nomination form and paid the £100 but I did not provide the separate identification details required by the COFP (my address). I genuinely believed I had already complied because I had provided my licence number on the earlier form.

You can ask. The magistrates will be *very* familiar with people appearing before them for this reason.

Interestingly (I don't get invited to dinner parties very much), what the law says about the identification information is that your name, date of birth and licence number must be provided to the appropriate person. If you hold a UK driving licence, your date of birth is part of your licence number.
The appropriate person for the purposes of identification information is the Fixed Penalty Clerk, whereas the appropriate person for the purpose of paying the fixed penalty is also the Fixed Penalty Clerk. If you provided your name, date of birth and licence number when you paid the fixed penalty, that it would seem that you had satisfied the legal requirement, and any prosecution would be unlawful.
North of the border, Polis Scotland don't purport to issue a separate requirement - you provide the details when you make payment and that is the end of it.

The form I returned identifying myself as the driver included my full name, date of birth and driving licence number

I preferred the original Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

 

(copy attached above).

Really?

I do not recall providing any further information when making payment
[...]
Does that strengthen the argument that the identification requirement had already been satisfied?

Not by any conventionally understood meaning of the word "strengthen".

but my understanding was that the Fixed Penalty Office already held those details from the completed form.

What "Fixed Penalty Office" would that be?

My address was also already printed on the form. I then paid the £100 fixed penalty. Does that make any difference to whether the identification requirement was satisfied?

No

Is this the sort of case where fixed penalty equivalent sentencing may be appropriate?

The guidance says '...where a penalty notice could not be offered or taken up for reasons unconnected with the offence itself, such as administrative difficulties outside the control of the offender, the starting point should be a fine equivalent to the amount of the penalty and no order of costs should be imposed.'

The sticky point is the 'difficulties' where within your control.  But don't ask, don't get.