Help - NIP arrived!!!
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djwimbledon

Original Poster:

585 posts

249 months

Sunday 20th August 2006
quotequote all
Guys

Just received my first ever (in 10 years) NIP!! I knew I had been caught and I have no excuse for the speeding apart from the fact I was massively late for a friends wedding due to some roadworks on the M25. I was caught doing 97 in a 60! I know it was stupid and totally not like me but I am just worried about what is going to happen. I received a NIP and not a summons so does anyone know what could happen? Will I end up in court do you think or may I get a fixed penalty due to a first offence etc.

Thanks in advance guys - I am hating this!

DJ

shuvitupya

3,338 posts

247 months

Sunday 20th August 2006
quotequote all
Definitely a court appearance if guilty.

bond-007

77 posts

242 months

Sunday 20th August 2006
quotequote all
Ignore all further letters and take a hit on the S172, you will come off better than naming yourself and facing a more than likely ban.

djwimbledon

Original Poster:

585 posts

249 months

Sunday 20th August 2006
quotequote all
Well I will plead guilty as I looked straight at the camera as I went past followed by.........."shhhiiitttteeee" at the top of my lungs.

cardenshaft

31 posts

242 months

Sunday 20th August 2006
quotequote all
at that speed you will probably be banned (unless it affects your lievelehood perhaps?)

justinp1

13,363 posts

260 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
cardenshaft said:
at that speed you will probably be banned (unless it affects your lievelehood perhaps?)


Which is why Bond has the right idea. If you dont fill out the forms or refuse to name a driver they will do you for not naming a driver for which the punishment will be harsh compared to a standard £60/3 points but for 97 in a 60 you are looking at 6 points/£200ish or a short ban.

cen

593 posts

265 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
The Notice of intended prosecution as been sent to you by way of section 172, of The Road Traffic Act. Violation of this offence is a criminal offence.

In the first instance I would personally write back to the camera partnership involved requesting confirmation that they are happy to request information that incriminates by means of penalty due, to the ECJ stating in various cases that; "It is not permissable to request information that incriminates under means of penaltly in criminal charges only. in that of civil charges".

I would also request that the person who have signed the NIP sent to you has a legal practice certificate.

This as worked on a couple of occasions recently where we have heard nothing further. But yes taking the Rap for s.172 is better than the resultant of the offence however, you could be charged with both offences if the photograph is good enough to prove guilt. Request the photograph also before making any decisions.

vonhosen

40,597 posts

247 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
justinp1 said:
cardenshaft said:
at that speed you will probably be banned (unless it affects your lievelehood perhaps?)


Which is why Bond has the right idea. If you dont fill out the forms or refuse to name a driver they will do you for not naming a driver for which the punishment will be harsh compared to a standard £60/3 points but for 97 in a 60 you are looking at 6 points/£200ish or a short ban.


Sec 172 as an offence may only carry a 3 point endorsement at the moment, but it is also a discretionary disqualification offence. If they think you are trying to have them over don't be surprised if they dig, they may have a very good picture after all. The bench where you get caught out like that, may be less forgiving when it comes to any plead for leniency on sentence.

bond-007

77 posts

242 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
If the pic is as good as you say, send a solicitor to defend the S172 and stay at home yourself. That way they won't be able to identify you in court as the driver.

DeMolay

351 posts

272 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
Sec 172 as an offence may only carry a 3 point endorsement at the moment, but it is also a discretionary disqualification offence. If they think you are trying to have them over don't be surprised if they dig, they may have a very good picture after all. The bench where you get caught out like that, may be less forgiving when it comes to any plead for leniency on sentence.

I have never heard of a ban being handed down for s.172.

"I assumed it was just junk mail, your honour. I threw it in the bin without opening it."

Another good reason to ban the use of first class mail for issuing NIPs.

safespeed

2,983 posts

304 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
May I please remind everyone that S172 is likely to die at the hands of the ECHR shortly.

Most likely it will be gone before any such cases get to court.

djwimbledon

Original Poster:

585 posts

249 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
Hi Guys - this all sounds excellent advice but I am totally confused! Given it my first ever NIP I dont know what an S172 is. I have a form asking me to confirm that I was driving the car or to name who was.....are you telling me not to fill that document in and dosomething else?

safespeed

2,983 posts

304 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
Section 172 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (as amended) is the law that provides for the offence of 'failing to name the driver'.

The document you have is a combined Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) and S172 notice.

If you fail to comply with the S172 demand for information, as the law stands (and assuming that the request meets all legal requirements) you are guilty of an offence.

Perhaps read the thread again in the light of this?

cen

593 posts

265 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
safespeed said:
May I please remind everyone that S172 is likely to die at the hands of the ECHR shortly.

Most likely it will be gone before any such cases get to court.


Or more likely the ECJ

safespeed

2,983 posts

304 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
cen said:
safespeed said:
May I please remind everyone that S172 is likely to die at the hands of the ECHR shortly.

Most likely it will be gone before any such cases get to court.


Or more likely the ECJ


Is there an ECJ case expected this year? The Francis and O'Halloran -v- UK 'right to silence' case will be heard before the Grand Chamber of the ECHR in Strasborg at the end of September.

7db

6,060 posts

260 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
safespeed said:
May I please remind everyone that S172 is likely to die at the hands of the ECHR shortly.

Most likely it will be gone before any such cases get to court.


Do you think the OP should bet his licence on it? Will you?

iaint

10,040 posts

268 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
7db said:
safespeed said:
May I please remind everyone that S172 is likely to die at the hands of the ECHR shortly.

Most likely it will be gone before any such cases get to court.


Do you think the OP should bet his licence on it? Will you?


At that speed it's a gonner anyway!

NugentS

699 posts

277 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
safespeed said:
cen said:
safespeed said:
May I please remind everyone that S172 is likely to die at the hands of the ECHR shortly.

Most likely it will be gone before any such cases get to court.


Or more likely the ECJ


Is there an ECJ case expected this year? The Francis and O'Halloran -v- UK 'right to silence' case will be heard before the Grand Chamber of the ECHR in Strasborg at the end of September.


And I will be there to watch!!!

Sean

outnumbered

4,879 posts

264 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all

What sort of a ban might he expect for 97 in a 60 ? If the ban itself was going to be 2 or 4 weeks, and so potentially not too inconvenient, then the more interesting question might be the insurance loading for an S172 offence compared to the insurance loading for the short ban.

safespeed

2,983 posts

304 months

Monday 21st August 2006
quotequote all
7db said:
safespeed said:
May I please remind everyone that S172 is likely to die at the hands of the ECHR shortly.

Most likely it will be gone before any such cases get to court.


Do you think the OP should bet his licence on it? Will you?


The collective advice was already heading towards a 'planned refusal' to the S172 request. It certainly isn't a question of 'betting his driving licence' on the basis of 'most likely' (which is what I said).

But it is one more reason to thnk that a planned refusal may be optimal. And don't forget, that his licence is very likely to be toast for at least a fortnight if he plays by the obvious rules.