Late speeding fine

systemshq

I was sent a speeding fine on 14/01/2020. However, because I thought it was a circular it just went in my junk tray and I didn't open it until February this year.

I then wrote back with all my driving license details informing them that I had only just received the fine as it was sent to the wrong address which had been empty for a long time. I still haven't heard back from the Camera & Tickets Office yet.

What's the best way to approach this so I don't end up having to pay a £1,000 fine 6 points on my license etc. please? 

Many thanks in advance

BOWFER

Am I reading this wrong, as it looks like you've falsely claimed it was sent to the wrong address when the truth is you just ignored it.

cymruchris

BOWFER said:

Am I reading this wrong, as it looks like you've falsely claimed it was sent to the wrong address when the truth is you just ignored it.

That's how it sounds.... 

facade

Have a look at your online driver record, you should have been charged and convicted in your absence with failing to supply driver details, which carries 6 points. This will have been around 6 months after the S172 was sent out.

You should have received court papers from this.

You then have to make a statutory declaration and get the conviction set aside, and then defend it, the Peppipoo suggested method is to turn up in court and do a deal to plead guilty to the speeding if they drop the S172 charge.

If there is nothing, and there has been no other correspondence, then you may have slipped through the cracks with all the kerfuffle last year over Covid (wishful thinking I suspect).

AdrianC

systemshq said:

I was sent a speeding fine on 14/01/2020. However, because I thought it was a circular it just went in my junk tray and I didn't open it until February this year.

I then wrote back with all my driving license details informing them that I had only just received the fine as it was sent to the wrong address which had been empty for a long time. I still haven't heard back from the Camera & Tickets Office yet.

You did receive it, but ignored it...?
Or you didn't receive it because the address was out-of-date?

What's the best way to approach this so I don't end up having to pay a £1,000 fine 6 points on my license etc. please? 

A penalty for failing to update your details will be separate to any penalty for the speeding and/or failure to reply.

This is likely to be big-boy-pants territory. You will almost certainly be looking at a court date.

systemshq

I received no court papers about this. I have also checked my driver license record and there have been no points recorded. Given that this has to be submitted to a magistrate's court within six month's of the offence am I off the hook now?

TooManyPoints

It would seem so.

boobyd

systemshq said:

I received no court papers about this. I have also checked my driver license record and there have been no points recorded. Given that this has to be submitted to a magistrate's court within six month's of the offence am I off the hook now?

Get over to Peppipoo.
Have all details for them

Date of offence,V5 doc ref,What the original letter was/said.
Any date timeline eg if you moved etc.

TooManyPoints

There's really no need. The very latest that court proceedings could have begun (for failing to provide driver's details) was 13th August 2020 (assuming the original NIP and s172 request was dated 14th January).  Any prosecution begun by then would have long since been completed by now (in the defendant's absence if there was no response from him). It obviously hasn't because there is no conviction recorded by the DVLA. Even if the offence occurred in Scotland (where the six month limit  for prosecutions has been increased to 12 months) proceedings must have started by 13th February 2021 and they too, in all likelihood would have been completed by now.

The OP provided his DL number so his change of address and when it occurred is largely irrelevant. Papers (both from the police and the court) must be served to his last known address and so long as the court is satisfied that this was done the matter will proceed.

systemshq

I think I'll leave this for now. Many thanks to everyone for their advice.