Speeding fine but dont know who was driving?

Shawn_Dark

Got a letter through this morning saying:

NOTICE OF INTENDED PROSECUTION
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY DRIVER OF VEHICLE

In summary it said the driver was doing 37 MPH in a 30 MPH zone.

The thing is, we don't know who was driving as it could have been one of four people!

Doesn't give any other option, other than tell us who it is or else.

What options do I have? Put my name down and take the probably 3 points and £60 fine (knowing it probably wasn't me)?

Aretnap

Depending on the type of camera the photos might show the driver. Contact the ticket office and ask if you can see them - they don't have to provide them, but often will.

If the photos don't help you have basically two options

(1) Think a bit harder, talk to the other drivers and decide which of you was most likely driving. That person will be offered a speed awareness course instead of points, if they haven't done one in the last 3 years

(2) Write back explaining what you've done to identify the driver. You'll be prosecuted for failure to provide details, and the onus will be on you to persuade the magistrates that you could not, with reasonable diligence, have identified the driver. This is not impossible, but it's not easy either as too many people think that "I don't know who was driving" is an easy way to get off speeding tickets, and magistrates have become rather sceptical of such claims. If you're convicted the penalty is 6 points (not 3) and a fine of several hundred pounds, so you need to be very confident before you choose to go down this route. Also be warned that a conviction for failure to identify the driver can have a very nasty effect on your insurance premium - more than a minor speeding offence. It makes insurers wonder what you did that was so terrible that 6 points and £500 seemed like a better option than owning up to it.

Shawn_Dark

Think I'll just go with the first option.

Many thanks for your response.

Jack_Regan

What steps have you taken to find out who was driving?

Shawn_Dark

Jack_Regan wrote: »

What steps have you taken to find out who was driving?

My wife and I both use the car daily. As for remembering who and at a specific time is unknown (I cant even remember what I was doing yesterday).

The other two drivers (family members) also had use of the car during that time period. They have since left the country.

What it boils down to is they cannot prove who was driving and I cant either.

I am just going to go with the first option. I have no choice but to put myself as the driver.

Shawn_Dark

Good old GBT.... you do this or else!



(Great British Thuggery)

spacey2012

Do you still have the envelope ?
check the date of the postmark is no more than 13 days from the date of alleged offence.
Let me know.

wiogs

Abu_Yoosha wrote: »

Good old GBT.... you do this or else!



(Great British Thuggery)

What does that mean?

Jack_Regan

Abu_Yoosha wrote: »

My wife and I both use the car daily. As for remembering who and at a specific time is unknown (I cant even remember what I was doing yesterday).

The other two drivers (family members) also had use of the car during that time period. They have since left the country.

What it boils down to is they cannot prove who was driving and I cant either.

I am just going to go with the first option. I have no choice but to put myself as the driver.

So it must be one of them if they had it at the time stated.

Or were all four of you in the car at the time?

Shawn_Dark

spacey2012 wrote: »

Do you still have the envelope ?
check the date of the postmark is no more than 13 days from the date of alleged offence.
Let me know.

There is no date on the post mark - its one of those electronically printed marks/stamps.

Also, I have moved house and so the letter was redirected (i.e. using Royal Mails Redirection service).

The date on the actual letter was 23rd of August (the date of the offence was 15th of Augst).

spacey2012

Did you change the address on the VC5 the day you moved ? or leave it a bit, if so what date is on the vc5 for change of address the car.

Just exploring technicalities.