Free Traffic Legal Advice

I recently received a Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN), and I am really anxious because I’ve never been to court before and I cannot afford to end up with 6 points on my licence.

Here’s my situation:

-The original offence was a speeding ticket (38mph in a 30mph restricted road – automatic camera device).

-I then received a further charge for Failing to Give Information Relating to the Identification of the Driver / Rider of a Vehicle (Section 172, Road Traffic Act 1988).

The issue is:

-The NIP form I received was damaged and unusable, so I couldn’t complete it by post.
-I tried to use the online portal, but there was a technical fault on their end.
-West Midlands Police actually acknowledged the fault in their reply, but they never offered me guidance or an alternative way to respond.
-I first contacted them on 08/01/2025 and followed up several times, asking for a replacement form or another way to fulfil my duty. (The speeding penalty letter is dated 24/12/2024).
-Despite my repeated emails, I was never provided with help, instructions, or a replacement form.

So I’ve entered a Not Guilty plea in relation to both charges — the speeding offence (38mph in a 30mph zone) and the allegation of failing to provide driver information. I explained that:

-I made every reasonable effort to comply.
-The only reason I couldn’t was because of a faulty system, a damaged form, and lack of police guidance.
-I can provide the full email transcript history to prove my repeated attempts.
-I am also willing to name the driver now, but I wanted to first see the photographic evidence to make sure I gave the correct information to the best of my knowledge.
-I am willing to provide the name of the driver involved in the alleged offence, to the best of my knowledge, on the condition that the related charge of failing to provide driver details is withdrawn

My Concerns

I’m very worried about what happens next. I’ve never been through court before, and I’m nervous about the whole process.

Questions for the Community
-What steps should I expect next in the process?
-Will this definitely go to a hearing, or could it be dealt with before court?
-Is it possible that the “failure to provide driver information” charge could be dropped if I can prove I tried to comply?
-Should I seek legal representation at this stage, or is it something I can handle myself if I bring all the evidence?
-Has anyone been through something similar?

I really don’t want to end up with 6 points on my licence for something that wasn’t my fault. Any guidance, experiences, or advice would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks for your response. I understand what you’re saying — that I could have just written a letter to the police with the driver’s details. Looking back, maybe I should have tried that, but at the time I thought the correct and only way was to use the NIP form or the online portal. Since the form was damaged and the portal wasn’t working (and they even admitted the fault), I felt stuck and was waiting for proper guidance or a replacement form.

To answer your main question: to the best of my knowledge, I think I was the driver at the time. I just wanted to see the photographic evidence first to be 100% certain before confirming it, as some time had passed and I didn’t want to risk giving inaccurate information.

If you believe to the best of your knowledge you were driving, the best and cheapest option is to stop worrying about photographic evidence and offer to plead guilty to the speeding charge if the FTF charge is dropped. Some SJs will accept this if offered as part of the 'reasons for pleading not guilty', but in other cases it will have to be done in court directly with the prosecutor.

There is no risk of your father being convicted of both offences. Unless he pleads guilty to it, the speeding charge cannot succeed as there is no evidence that he was driving.

He should respond to he SJPN by pleading Not Guilty to both charges.

In the “reasons for no guilty plea” section he should say “I am willing to plead guilty to the charge of speeding provided, and only provided, the “fail to provide driver’s details” charge is dropped".

As above, some courts are dealing with this procedure under the Single Justice procedure with no attendance being necessary. Others will require an attendance in he normal Magistrates’ Court.

This “deal” is undertaken across he land every day and all court users are familiar with it. If your father does have to attend, you can go with him and try to see the prosecutor before he is called into court. There is no need to involve a solicitor (and I would imagine an interpreter would cost far less than a solicitor anyway).

Thank you very much for your response @NewJudge.

I have already responded to the SJPN and did exactly what you mentioned in regards to not pleading guilty and the reason.

Unfortunately I have received a summons to a Magistrates' Court.

I will do as you have advised; try and talk to the porsecutor beforehand and also get an interpreter.

Is there anything more you'd advise?

Once again, thank you for your response, it was very helpful.

For absolute clarity, when you posted earlier that you were the driver, you actually meant your father was the driver.  Yes?

It can get confusing when people post in the first person on behalf of someone else

I would advise not bumping your thread by repeating "Is there anything more you'd advise?"