Speeding ticket stop - no ticket

[CrazeUK]

Hi All.
I was driving in Stevenage down a 40 road after coming off the motor way, i noticed my car felt a little "weird" i accelerated, then slowed the car down. 

Shortly after i got stopped by a manned police car with a laser.

During the stop the officer stated i was doing 54 in a 40,

the conversation was short, but he said i would unlikely get a awareness course and it was most likely 3 points and a fine. 

Mrs thought it was a good idea to have dairy when she is lactose intolerant on date night, we just got on our way. 

At the time, i didnt admit to the offence, but did say i didnt realise and had slowed down in any case.

The officers chest camera was recording and on.

At the stop, he asked where to send the fine to, as i knew i would be travelling to visit family up north, i provided my temporary details at that location in Yorkshire.

It is now 05/05 and i haven't received anything at either my home address in Stevenage or the temporary address.

1. Is there a time limit in which paperwork needs to be sent to me.

2. Should i query the ticket as i don't want to miss any deadlines (if so who do i check with?) OR should i keep quiet.

3. Given nothing has arrived in 20 days, is there a chance of appeal if and when it comes through?

Many thanks

CrazeUK

[dx100uk]

There are a number of reasons why you may not have been issued a notice in the post within 14 days.

If you were stopped by the police it may have been given verbally. In the case of speeding offences, the police may issue you with a conditional offer of a fixed penalty of 3 points and £100.00 fine by post or an offer of a speed awareness course. If the offence is considered too serious for a speed awareness course or fixed penalty you may be charged with an offence which normally occurs by way of the issue of a Single Justice Procedure Notice.

If the vehicle within which the alleged offence took place was registered to another person or company there is technically no need for a notice to be issued to the driver. After the police have obtained details of the nominated the driver, they will normally send the notice to them, although there are no time limits within which they must do so (provided that the notice was received within 14 days by the registered keeper of the vehicle). In such circumstances, a person may receive a notice several months after the alleged offence too place but still be prosecuted.

A Guide to a Notice of Intended Prosecution | Motoring Offence Lawyers

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dx

 

 

[Man in the middle]

Since you were stopped at the time there is no requirement for the police give you anything there and then or to send you anything before they have decided how to deal with the offence. 

They have three choices:

1. Offer you a course
2. Offer you a fixed penalty (£100 and three points)
3. Prosecute you in court 

The only option that has a formal time limit is (3). They must begin court proceedings within six months of the date of the alleged offence. Options (1) and (2) have no time limit but since the only alternative the police have if you decline those offers is (3) they will not usually offer a course beyond three months from the date of the offence and will not usually offer a fixed penalty beyond four months from that date. This is so as to allow time for the driver to accept and comply with their offer and to give them the time to go to option (3) if he declines or ignores it. 

Unless there is a good reason to do otherwise, the action they take will usually be in accordance with the National Police Chiefs' Council's guidance on speeding enforcement. In a 40mph limit this is as follows

• Up to 45mph - no action.
• Between 46mph and 53mph - offer a course
• Between 54mph and 65mph - offer a fixed penalty
• Over 65mph - prosecution in court

So you can see that 54mph should see you offered a fixed penalty.

Three weeks is not overly long for a fixed penalty offer to arrive. As well as that, there has been Easter in that period which will have slowed things down a bit. However, I would suggest that if it gets to about two months from the offence date and you have still heard nohing, I would contact the ticket office for the area where you were stopped to see if anything has been sent to you.

Of course this raises the danger that you might be "stirring the hornets' nest". But in all honesty, if the police have decided to take no action, you jogging their memory should not really influence them. The bigger danger, IMHO, is that your fixed penalty offer may have been sent but lost and if you do not respond it will lapse. This will see the police revert to option (3) above.

Whilst there is a mechanism in these circumstances  to persuade the court to sentence you at the fixed penalty level (rather than in accordance with the normal guidelines which will see a harsher penalty), it relies on them believing you when you say you did not received an offer. In any case it is aggravation you could well do without so for the sake of a phone call, I'd enquire if it was me. 

I think I've answered all your questions but if I can help further just let me know. Just a tip - if you are offered a fixed penalty be sure to submit your driving licence details as instructed. I've seen lots of instances where a driver has not done this. There will be no reminder and no second chance; your £100 will be refunded and the police will prosecute you through the courts.