NIP - Failing to Stop - whats me situation?
Discussion
Just got a NIP for Failing to Stop, Failing to report an Accident, Careless or Inconsiderate Driving.
Very strange. I was in my car at the time, and saw another car off the side of the road and a sign knocked doun. I was not involved and did not see it happen, but I stopped to see he was ok. Many other motorists did not stop.
“After an accident, a driver must firstly stop and then give his details to the other person involved: if he does not, he may be guilty of the offence of failing to stop. If he did not stop and give his details for whatever reason and then he does not report the accident to the police, he is guilty of the further offence of failing to report an accident. If he did stop and give his details, in most cases there is no need to report the accident to the police.”
I thought he would report it to the police and as it was only a sign and he was ok I did not bother. Seems someone took my car details and mistakenly thought I was involved. Am I being stitched up?
What is me rights now? Best to send back to police a note explaining situation and not sign the NIP? Seems odd to me they investigating knocked over sign, when they couldna be bothered visiting when me brothers car got stolen weeks back.
Very strange. I was in my car at the time, and saw another car off the side of the road and a sign knocked doun. I was not involved and did not see it happen, but I stopped to see he was ok. Many other motorists did not stop.
“After an accident, a driver must firstly stop and then give his details to the other person involved: if he does not, he may be guilty of the offence of failing to stop. If he did not stop and give his details for whatever reason and then he does not report the accident to the police, he is guilty of the further offence of failing to report an accident. If he did stop and give his details, in most cases there is no need to report the accident to the police.”
I thought he would report it to the police and as it was only a sign and he was ok I did not bother. Seems someone took my car details and mistakenly thought I was involved. Am I being stitched up?
What is me rights now? Best to send back to police a note explaining situation and not sign the NIP? Seems odd to me they investigating knocked over sign, when they couldna be bothered visiting when me brothers car got stolen weeks back.
If you do not sign and return the NIP you will be guilty of an offence regardless of whether you committed the offences mentioned in it. However I would include a note saying that you were not involved in the accident in any way. The law says, "If owing to the presence of a motor vehicle on a road . . ." so you do not have to suffer damage yourself or even collide with anything to be required to stop and give your details. The test is, if your vehicle had not been there, would the accident have occurred.
I hope the truth comes out.
Derek
I hope the truth comes out.
Derek
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