Speeding Tickets: Is It True That You Need To Receive Them In 14 Days?
You’ve probably heard that, if you don’t receive a speeding ticket within 14 days, it doesn’t stand. But is this true and what’s the full story? Here’s everything you need to know…
No Way Out?
Getting caught out by a speed camera is stomach churning. It’s guaranteed to ruin your day and cause you nagging stress; all whilst you await the inevitable Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) and a Section 172 notice. At this stage you’ll face a hefty fine and three penalty points or ‘endorsements’. Although, in some cases, police forces will offer the possibility of attending a driver awareness course. If so, attendance will negate the points. But is there any way out of a speeding ticket once you’ve been caught? In general, no. Not unless you can prove you weren’t actually speeding and, chances are, you were. In addition, if you contest the fine and lose you’ll face a significantly larger one and potentially even more points. Despite this, there is a single loophole.
14 Days For A Speeding Ticket
The police force that operates the camera that caught you is legally obligated to issue your Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) and a Section 172 notice within 14 days. The precise amount of time it takes depends on what system caught you, which police force is prosecuting and even the time of year. However, the police force issuing the speeding ticket need to be able to demonstrate that it should have reached the offender within 14 days under normal circumstances. So if it’s sent to an old address or a place of work, for instance, it still stands. A postal strike or freak weather would probably mean the same, too. But if it’s sent outside of this period (excluding the day you were caught), and there are no unusual circumstances, you may have grounds to contest. Indeed, the more overdue it is, the more grounds you have.
Don’t Speed, Don’t Get Fined
Despite the 14-day rule, the chances are you’ll receive a speeding ticket punctually if you’ve been caught. So few people will be able to exploit this detail. Most police forces operate quickly; after all, there’s a lot of money to be made via issuing motorists fines! So the best way to avoid the stress of an NIP is simply to avoid speeding. Speed limits exist to keep you, and other road-users, safe. Sometimes, we risk speeding not out of malice but by a lack of concentration or familiarity with certain roads. In this case, invest in a sat nav that offers warnings for cameras and reduced speed limits. Be especially weary on major roads, especially motorways, when temporary restrictions are in place.
No matter how impatient you feel, no matter how rushed you are, it’s never worth the dread caused by the lightning-like flash of a gatso speed camera. It’ll mean giving up eye-watering amounts of money, penalty points that will haunt you for years and increased insurance premiums.
Hate Speed Cameras? You Could Soon Be Facing Noise Cameras, Too! – https://autoserveclub.co.uk/blog/motorists-noise-cameras-trial/
UK Drivers At Risk Of Falling Victim To High-Tech French Speed Cameras – https://www.autoservefleet.co.uk/latest-news/uk-drivers-at-risk-of-falling-victim-to-high-tech-french-speed-cameras/
