Speeding Advice- On Missing NIP
Discussion
So, before I start, I am not condoning speeding, and I accept that I have been careless and have been caught twice this year.
I was caught in August 2026 in my own vehicle. I was travelling at over 53 mph down a hill into a new 40 mph limit, which used to be a 60 mph limit. I was bang to rights.
Around 2.5 years ago, I was also caught doing 81 mph on a motorway and received 3 points, as I was only two years on from my last speed awareness course.
I am therefore currently on 6 points, which is the limit permitted by my employer.
I have slowed down considerably, but I had a shock in October when I discovered that, while my car was in the garage, I had been caught speeding in the loan car. The offence was on 11/09/26. The NIP was initially sent to the dealer, who responded on 18/09/26, and a further NIP was apparently issued to me on 23/09/26.
The issue is that I never received it. Royal Mail may have lost it, or there may have been an error on the Speed Enforcement side.
On 16/10/26, I received a letter stating that I had failed to identify the driver and giving me seven days to respond. By the time I received it, five of those days had already passed. I panicked, logged on and contacted the police through their online contact form.
When I had not heard anything by the following day, I panicked again and confirmed that I was the driver.
The alleged speed was 64 mph in a 40 mph limit, so I appreciate this is not a minor speeding offence. However, they have offered me a Fixed Penalty Notice, which expires on 18 November.
Some days later, they acknowledged my report regarding the missing NIP but have refused to reset the 28-day period or provide me with a copy of the original NIP. My solicitor needs this to establish whether it was correctly served.
So far, technical checks have not identified any other potential technical defence.
As there is a real possibility that further points could affect my ability to drive for work and undertake my voluntary role, I am understandably keen to avoid any additional points if possible. However, I cannot imagine a JP giving me a more favourable outcome than the 3 points and £100 FPN for doing 24 mph over the limit.
I have, however, been advised that, given we are approaching the Christmas period and they only have six months to commence proceedings, there is a possibility that, if I allow the FPN to expire, proceedings may not be commenced in time.
I appreciate that this would be a gamble, and I am not looking to avoid responsibility for my actions. I am simply trying to understand what options are realistically open to me before deciding whether to accept the FPN.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I was caught in August 2026 in my own vehicle. I was travelling at over 53 mph down a hill into a new 40 mph limit, which used to be a 60 mph limit. I was bang to rights.
Around 2.5 years ago, I was also caught doing 81 mph on a motorway and received 3 points, as I was only two years on from my last speed awareness course.
I am therefore currently on 6 points, which is the limit permitted by my employer.
I have slowed down considerably, but I had a shock in October when I discovered that, while my car was in the garage, I had been caught speeding in the loan car. The offence was on 11/09/26. The NIP was initially sent to the dealer, who responded on 18/09/26, and a further NIP was apparently issued to me on 23/09/26.
The issue is that I never received it. Royal Mail may have lost it, or there may have been an error on the Speed Enforcement side.
On 16/10/26, I received a letter stating that I had failed to identify the driver and giving me seven days to respond. By the time I received it, five of those days had already passed. I panicked, logged on and contacted the police through their online contact form.
When I had not heard anything by the following day, I panicked again and confirmed that I was the driver.
The alleged speed was 64 mph in a 40 mph limit, so I appreciate this is not a minor speeding offence. However, they have offered me a Fixed Penalty Notice, which expires on 18 November.
Some days later, they acknowledged my report regarding the missing NIP but have refused to reset the 28-day period or provide me with a copy of the original NIP. My solicitor needs this to establish whether it was correctly served.
So far, technical checks have not identified any other potential technical defence.
As there is a real possibility that further points could affect my ability to drive for work and undertake my voluntary role, I am understandably keen to avoid any additional points if possible. However, I cannot imagine a JP giving me a more favourable outcome than the 3 points and £100 FPN for doing 24 mph over the limit.
I have, however, been advised that, given we are approaching the Christmas period and they only have six months to commence proceedings, there is a possibility that, if I allow the FPN to expire, proceedings may not be commenced in time.
I appreciate that this would be a gamble, and I am not looking to avoid responsibility for my actions. I am simply trying to understand what options are realistically open to me before deciding whether to accept the FPN.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Looks like you may have to throw yourself on the mercy of the court with "possibility of unemployment" with dependents etc etc.
Will your employer be ok with a ban and fine or is that a no no too, anyway which loose i will suggest, (before anyone else does) that it would be an apt time to engage in some voluntary driver retraining sessions or even doing an advanced driving course, to indicate you are aware of your tendency to break accepted laws and regulations.
Will your employer be ok with a ban and fine or is that a no no too, anyway which loose i will suggest, (before anyone else does) that it would be an apt time to engage in some voluntary driver retraining sessions or even doing an advanced driving course, to indicate you are aware of your tendency to break accepted laws and regulations.
So OP, this is your 4th tube caught speeding?
One SAC, 2x3 points, now this.
Feels strange not to have driven accordingly when you lose your job with greater than 6 points.
My point is that might be hard to make a plea in court and you can only do what your lawyer advises. The problem with wait and hope is what the consequences might be. If it has a chance of 6 points that's not a happy place. Banned and no job.
As has been said, does your employer have any leeway? That would be the best outcome.
And in true PH style you might consider paying more attention to speed limits!!
One SAC, 2x3 points, now this.
Feels strange not to have driven accordingly when you lose your job with greater than 6 points.
My point is that might be hard to make a plea in court and you can only do what your lawyer advises. The problem with wait and hope is what the consequences might be. If it has a chance of 6 points that's not a happy place. Banned and no job.
As has been said, does your employer have any leeway? That would be the best outcome.
And in true PH style you might consider paying more attention to speed limits!!
When do points being added count from - date of offence or date of conviction?
If the former, I don't think you could 'time out' your first 3-points from 2.5 years ago and have 3-points spare to play with.
Personal experience also makes me think that 'they' are vindictive enough to schedule hearings just to play you along then screw you over.
What is your solicitor (AGTLaw?) recommending re: a written letter with your plea? As noted, exceptional hardship to others is (AIUI) the only real mitigation that gets taken into account.
If you got a short ban (and could conveniently take the time off work with holiday or *cough* a terrible illness), would work ignore that because it is not points?
If the former, I don't think you could 'time out' your first 3-points from 2.5 years ago and have 3-points spare to play with.
Personal experience also makes me think that 'they' are vindictive enough to schedule hearings just to play you along then screw you over.
What is your solicitor (AGTLaw?) recommending re: a written letter with your plea? As noted, exceptional hardship to others is (AIUI) the only real mitigation that gets taken into account.
If you got a short ban (and could conveniently take the time off work with holiday or *cough* a terrible illness), would work ignore that because it is not points?
RSTurboPaul said:
When do points being added count from - date of offence or date of conviction?
If the former, I don't think you could 'time out' your first 3-points from 2.5 years ago and have 3-points spare to play with.
Personal experience also makes me think that 'they' are vindictive enough to schedule hearings just to play you along then screw you over.
What is your solicitor (AGTLaw?) recommending re: a written letter with your plea? As noted, exceptional hardship to others is (AIUI) the only real mitigation that gets taken into account.
If you got a short ban (and could conveniently take the time off work with holiday or *cough* a terrible illness), would work ignore that because it is not points?
Date of offence. If the former, I don't think you could 'time out' your first 3-points from 2.5 years ago and have 3-points spare to play with.
Personal experience also makes me think that 'they' are vindictive enough to schedule hearings just to play you along then screw you over.
What is your solicitor (AGTLaw?) recommending re: a written letter with your plea? As noted, exceptional hardship to others is (AIUI) the only real mitigation that gets taken into account.
If you got a short ban (and could conveniently take the time off work with holiday or *cough* a terrible illness), would work ignore that because it is not points?
Danger.Man said:
.............. a further NIP was apparently issued to me on 23/09/26.
The issue is that I never received it.
...................
........... have refused to reset the 28-day period or provide me with a copy of the original NIP. My solicitor needs this to establish whether it was correctly served.
IANAL but..........The issue is that I never received it.
...................
........... have refused to reset the 28-day period or provide me with a copy of the original NIP. My solicitor needs this to establish whether it was correctly served.
Your problem is the courts generally tend to assume the NIP is correctly served if it were posted, even if it wasn't received (you'd have to prove a negative...a difficult thing to do). So any technicality on getting out by its not being correct, is unavailable to you.
Danger.Man said:
Some days later, they acknowledged my report regarding the missing NIP but have refused to reset the 28-day period or provide me with a copy of the original NIP. My solicitor needs this to establish whether it was correctly served.
If you've got a solicitor to ask for advice, why are you posting on here?BertBert said:
So OP, this is your 4th tube caught speeding?
One SAC, 2x3 points, now this.
Feels strange not to have driven accordingly when you lose your job with greater than 6 points.
My point is that might be hard to make a plea in court and you can only do what your lawyer advises. The problem with wait and hope is what the consequences might be. If it has a chance of 6 points that's not a happy place. Banned and no job.
As has been said, does your employer have any leeway? That would be the best outcome.
And in true PH style you might consider paying more attention to speed limits!!
4th in three years correct, my mileage has gone up considerably this year.One SAC, 2x3 points, now this.
Feels strange not to have driven accordingly when you lose your job with greater than 6 points.
My point is that might be hard to make a plea in court and you can only do what your lawyer advises. The problem with wait and hope is what the consequences might be. If it has a chance of 6 points that's not a happy place. Banned and no job.
As has been said, does your employer have any leeway? That would be the best outcome.
And in true PH style you might consider paying more attention to speed limits!!
When I was at 6 points I slowed down and made a reall effort, not knowing this other speeding was winging its way they happened about 2 weeks apart.
Mike Legerwood said:
Solicitors are £500 an hour. PH is free 
I have checked the device certificate against the photographs. There are two photographs, both showing the same speed. The enforcement appears to have been carried out using a small motorbike with a camera operator, who moved position along the road.The photographs and calibration certificate appear to line up, so I cannot see anything obvious to challenge there.
They have not been particularly helpful in providing any information beyond what is already available on their portal, and I cannot see the JP being any more amenable. I do have children and other responsibilities, but ultimately a ban would not help the situation.
I may well need to take legal advice. As someone mentioned in the previous thread, three points have not been an issue for me for quite some time. The problem is that in my area speed limits are constantly being reduced, and the signage is not always particularly clear.
You can go from three points to six and potentially nine within a matter of eight weeks. Nine points, as we know, puts you right on the line until the original three drop off next year, while also potentially having a significant effect on insurance premiums.
It is not really a case of blasting around either. I am driving on roads that have been national speed limit for years, where traffic has traditionally travelled at 50 to 60 mph, but which have now been reduced to 40 mph.
Around here, 40 increasingly seems to be the new 60, even on roads such as dual carriageways that have historically carried traffic at considerably higher speeds.
I was considering gambling the fact that I know the court service is a mess and they may struggle to get the hearinf prior to 6 month period.
Edited by Danger.Man on Thursday 5th November 10:24
Edited by Danger.Man on Thursday 5th November 10:25
agtlaw said:
Danger.Man said:
.
I was considering gambling the fact that I know the court service is a mess and they may struggle to get the hearing prior to 6 month period.
You re misinformed as that isn t a requirement.I was considering gambling the fact that I know the court service is a mess and they may struggle to get the hearing prior to 6 month period.
agtlaw said:
simon_harris said:
I know you are the expert but isn't it the case that the papers have to be "served" within 6 months but the hearing could well be considerably later than that?
Issue not serve. Correct but potential abuse of process if delay.It is a long long time ago now but the only time I had to go to court for speeding the papers got issued a few days before the 6 month deadline but I am sure it then took 2 or 3 months before the case was heard.
ac.cobra said:
How is your employer going to know you have 9 points.
They perform an annual check normally using a Fleet App- We have to register the vehicles on there safety inspection and usage etc.Mileage in and out, we have to inform them of any changes to our licence, so hide and seek is not an option.
Its not live as it doesn't show the Aug 3 Pts but I last was asked to submit my licence in December.
Danger.Man said:
4th in three years correct, my mileage has gone up considerably this year.
When I was at 6 points I slowed down and made a reall effort, not knowing this other speeding was winging its way they happened about 2 weeks apart.
Making a real effort is not enough, it has to be a change of mindset. SoWhen I was at 6 points I slowed down and made a reall effort, not knowing this other speeding was winging its way they happened about 2 weeks apart.
Better observation (which is always a good thing)
Recognise that 'change of road may well mean change of speed limit' - so default to 30 (or even 20) until confirmed by repeaters *
Use speed limiter if you have one.
- This was suggested to me by an excellent tutor on a speed awareness course, after I was done for 37 in a 30 (which used to be a 40)
Pica-Pica said:
Making a real effort is not enough, it has to be a change of mindset. So
Better observation (which is always a good thing)
Recognise that 'change of road may well mean change of speed limit' - so default to 30 (or even 20) until confirmed by repeaters *
Use speed limiter if you have one.
1 was a lapse in observation the other was a deliberate speeding as I had checked the safety camera spot. Most of the traffic on that road is doing more than the limit must be shooting fish in barrel.Better observation (which is always a good thing)
Recognise that 'change of road may well mean change of speed limit' - so default to 30 (or even 20) until confirmed by repeaters *
Use speed limiter if you have one.
- This was suggested to me by an excellent tutor on a speed awareness course, after I was done for 37 in a 30 (which used to be a 40)
Its interesting road collisions and deaths are up despite the high level of unmarked speed enforcement. They have moved most of their mobile camera spots this year.
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