Free Traffic Legal Advice

I just have a screenshot of the screen after I submitted.

What does this screenshot show?  Did the instructions allow for your nomination electronically?  (As opposed to naming an alternative person)

Were you nominating yourself or somebody else?

If you were nominating yourself as the driver most police forces (apparently) require you to do so by returning the paper s172 request physically signed by you.  You can't do it online.

Norfolk and suffolk constabulary is the only one I know of that allows somebody to nominate themselves online, but there may be others

...to just have the 3 points and fine instead of the 6points and larger fine.

What was the alleged speed and limit?

It was myself but the form allowed me to do so and I was able to submit online. It was West Midlands. Just need to figure out how to respond to the SJPN.

If you don't want to explore whether you complied with the s172 request then there's the frequently detailed 'plea bargain'.

But you have to plead not guilty to both offences - assuming the forms do not offer such an option.  (Do not be tempted to plead guilty to the underlying offence as you could bag 9+ points - remember it seems like they do not have sufficient evidence as to the driver)

You may well have to attend court to get the prosecutor to agree to dropping the s172.  You can indicate you would plead guilty to the speeding if the s172 is dropped.

...then there's the other conversation about the sentencing.  You can ask for the court to consider a fixed penalty equivalent (and no costs order) but we don't know whether the criteria have been met for this.

What do you mean with the sentencing. With a plea would it not just revert to the speeding offence fine and points.

What do you mean with the sentencing. With a plea would it not just revert to the speeding offence fine and points.

Yes. But the fine would be income-related (less one third for a guilty plea) and subject to a 40% surcharge - certainly a lot more than the £100 fixed penalty. Plus prosecution costs c£90.

The court has discretion to sentence you at the FP level if it thinks it appropriate. There's nothing to be lost by asking (nicely).

I thought by submitting online it would get sent.

But when nothing arrived for months on end, did you not wonder?

Obviously there must be some issue as they came back and said I had no response. Very annoying because I’ve not ignored the notice and now I’m facing a very unfair SJPN. The screenshot just shows that I’ve submitted the form but doesn’t show the form itself.

We don't know whether you had fully complied.  As noted above, some Forces only allow online nomination for another driver.  If you still have the paperwork read it carefully to see if it gives any clues...

I just need to know what my next steps should be.

Your next step is to make a decision. You can either:

(1) Plead Not Guilty to both charges and then offer to plead guilty to the speeding charge if the "Fail to Provide" charge is dropped. Or

(2) You can plead Not Guilty to both charges and defend the Fail to Provide charge on the basis that you responded as required. Or

(3) You can simply plead guilty to the Fail to Provide charge.

(without a guilty plea the speeding charge cannot succeed as the police have no evidence that you were driving).

Whatever you decide you must respond to he SJPN in the 21 days allowed. If you do not you will almost certainly be convicted of the FtP charge without your input.