It needs to be made clear that this is separate and distinct from a requirement to identify the driver of a vehicle under section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The following points need to be borne in mind: The six-month time limit applies to most summary road traffic offences, but statutory exceptions do occur. We represent drivers throughout Scotland. In serious cases a conspiracy charge should be considered; Whether persons who might be guilty of the offence or offences such as office staff and drivers should be used as witnesses where they have been threatened with the sack unless they continue to act illegally. Liverlad67 Forumite. Otherwise, if there is no alternative, the case might have to be put off to another day for you to return if necessary. There may, from time to time, be cases that call for exceptional treatment and departure from the normal procedures. The Notice of Intended Prosecution time limit of 28 days can incur harsh penalties of a fine up to 1,000 and six penalty points on a driver's licence if not dealt with inside the 28 day time constraints. Self-balancing scooters such as Segways, mini Segways, Hoverboards and single wheel electric skateboards) may not be driven on a pavement in England and Wales. For those that attend court without having driving documents checked at a police station, the case is highly likely be put off so that you can take the documents to the nominated police station and have them checked there. The offence is equally serious, whether "use" or "causing or permitting" is involved. It was held that a tachograph chart that had been falsified came within section 9(1)(g) of the Act when a record was being made during a period when there wrongly purported to be a second driver who was driving, when in fact there was only one driver at the wheel. Courts should be aware of the opportunity to proceed in the defendant's absence thereafter if either a satisfactory production is made, or the defendant does not cooperate and fails to return. Fixed penalty offences within the meaning of s.51(1) RTOA 1988. This guidance is provided to provide an overview on procedure and charging practice that is not dealt with in the existing road traffic guidance being. There was no proper notice of the speed limit. McCombe LJ said, delivering the judgment of the court: if the restriction is rendered ineffective by the operation of s.148 then the policy is to be read, as it seems to me, as if that restriction was treated as deleted in blue pencil from its wording.. The offence under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. In cases of the unauthorised taking of mechanically propelled vehicles, delay can often occur due to the gathering of forensic evidence where the offence is denied. Notice of intended prosecution (NIP) - informs the registered keeper that the police want to prosecute the driver for an offence. Summons Time Limit The notice of intended prosecution has to be sent to the registered keeper within 14 days, however if you were pulled over by the police for speeding they will have given your notice of intended prosecution at the roadside. There are circumstances where you may not have received the NIP within 14 . The law relating to tachographs falls into two categories: The rules governing the mechanical operation of tachographs are set out in EEC Regulation 3821/85 and that covering the hours permitted are set out in Regulation (EC) 561/2006. The National Protocol for Production and Inspection of Driving Documents 2002, see Annex A below, provides guidance on production of such documents. A circumstance peculiar to the offender, as distinguished from the offence, is not a special reason: see Whittall v Kirby [1946] 2 All ER 552. Under s.1(3) RTOA 1988 the requirements of that section are deemed to have been met unless and until the contrary is proved. What is the charge? It is important to note, however, that it is only the registered keeper that is required to receive such a warning . The duty to determine whether any documents produced are valid does not pass to any other agency where a motorist fails to produce the required documents, therefore local arrangements should be agreed for the most effective method for the documents' validation by the police before the court proceeds. Records of all production of driving documents should be kept at police stations as a national standard to safeguard the needs of victims who may have a potential claim for personal injury or financial loss. Where a defendant raises exceptional hardship as a reason for not being disqualified under the repeated offence provisions of s.35 RTOA 1988 it is appropriate for the prosecutor to question the defendant. A taxi driver who had a licence to ply for hire in Rossendale and whose insurance covered him for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward under a public hire licence was not guilty of having no insurance in spite of plying for hire in Oldham, to which his licence did not extend. The 'prosecutor' for the purposes of section 6 can be the investigating officer or the informant (see [1976] 140 JP Jo., 675; Swan v Vehicle Inspectorate [1997] RTR 187. So long as the information is laid within six months, the issue and service of the summons and the subsequent determination may all occur outside that period. There are no time limits on subsequent NIPs but there is an overall time limit of six months for a prosecution to begin. The time limit for service of the NIP is a very important aspect of a succesful prosecution therefore if there has been a delay you should get in touch with a solicitor and obtain case specific advice. If your defence is that you did not receive it within this timescale, the onus is on you to prove it on the balance of probabilities. The minimum penalty for speeding is a 100 fine and 3 penalty points added to your licence. Where special reasons are put forward in cases of drink and driving, the court must consider the following factors, see Chatters v Burke [1986] 3 All ER 168: In DPP v Bristow [1998] RTR 100 the Divisional Court stated that the key question justices should ask themselves when assessing if such special reasons existed on which they might decide not to disqualify was this: what would a sober, reasonable and responsible friend of the defendant, present at the time, but himself a non-driver and thus unable to help, have advised in the circumstances, to drive or not to drive? So what exactly is a written NIP? The 14-day requirement only applies to the first NIP sent. A Notice of Intended Prosecution (also known as a section 1 warning) is a warning issued under section 1 of the Road Traffic (Offenders) Act 1988. . Under s.143(1)(a) RTA 1988 "a person must not use a motor vehicle on a road or other public place unless there is in force in relation to the use of that vehicle by that person a policy of insurance ". Your appeal may mean that the police send a report to the procurator fiscal. In the . Basically a Notice of Intended Prosecution has to be given to you verbally at the time of the alleged offence, or in writing within 14 days, but see below. For certain offences, a NIP must be sent (unless the driver was stopped and warned at the time) and must be served on the registered keeper within 14 days. . It is important to note, however, that only the registered keeper requires to receive such a warning within 14 days. This is an either way offence; Section 115(2) Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 - making a false statement to obtain a parking authorisation. The expression 'traffic sign' is defined in section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the colour, size and type of signs are prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002. Even when you weren't the driver at the time, you must provide the police with the driver's details. It should state the nature of the offence (for example Speeding) together with the time, date and place . received in proceedings held in the absence of the accused - s.11(1) MCA 1980 proof in absence; read out before the court under s.12(7) MCA 1980 (non-appearance of accused: plea of guilty); or. Where a vehicle is required to be fitted with a tachograph, it is a defence to a charge of using (or causing or permitting the use of) the vehicle when a seal on the recording equipment was not intact, to show (among other things) that the breaking or removal of the seal could not have been avoided (s.97(4)(a) TA 1968]. If you don't send the police the driver's details within the time they state then . The Police Sent Section 172 Notice and Notice of Intended Prosecution to the Wrong Address! A copy should be provided to all parties and to the court. We are only a phone call away. DPP v Hay [2005] EWHC Admin 1395 - Where a defendant is charged with driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance, and the Crown have proved that the defendant was driving a vehicle on the road, the non-issue by the police of form HO/RT/1 (requesting production of the documents) is not fatal to the prosecution case. In this case the appellant appealed by way of case stated against a decision that the prosecutor's certificate issued under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 was conclusive and that he could not argue that the prosecution was out of time. Driving whilst under age does not constitute an offence of driving whilst disqualified (by reason of age) under s.103 RTA 1988 by virtue of section 103(4) RTA 1988. However, since that offence is summary, if a defendant has been charged with other either way or indictable offences, then charging an offence under s.3 Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981(which is either way) is likely to be more appropriate. Your lease company will receive the ticket. The offence under section 80 of the Explosives Act 1875. It is enough that it is received by a member of his staff impliedly authorised to receive it. (g) the carrying on the vehicle of any particular apparatus, or Very exceptionally, a prosecutor may feel it appropriate to verify documents, but: Sections 173 and 174 RTA 1988 and sections 44 and 45 Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (VERA 1994) create a number of offences concerning forgery, fraudulent actions and false statements in connection with various road traffic documents. A Notice of Intended Prosecution must be served on the vehicle's DVLA registered keeper within 14 days after the date of the alleged offence. Here's everything you need to know and if you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution. If such an application is made, it should be noted that s.78 gives a discretionary power to the court to exclude evidence. Proceedings cease to be specified if a magistrates' court begins to receive evidence in those proceedings other than evidence that is: Proceedings for an offence mentioned in the Schedule are not specified if the defendant is charged under s.37(7)(d) Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984) or the defendant is less than 16 years old at the time when a summons or requisition is issued in respect of the offence - S.3(1A and B) Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The offence under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968, but only if it is the prosecutor's case that the offence constitutes low-value shoplifting within the meaning of section 22A(3) of the Magistrates Courts Act 1980. . . Notice in writing to that effect must be given to the driver of the vehicle. It is no defence for a person disqualified in their absence to claim that they did not know that they had been disqualified. Assessment of the role played by each person in the company/operator in the case of large scale prosecutions; Whether there has been systematic flouting of the law resulting in widespread falsification of records endorsed by management. Other ways to contact the Speed Enforcement Unit. 14 July 2015 at 5:34PM. For reasons, see DPP v O'Connor [1992] RTR 66. Find out about speeding limits and penalties, what to do if you receive a speeding ticket and driver awareness courses. Customer: On page 1 of the Notice of Intended Prosecution it states Notice Issue Date: 23/02/2023. The offence under section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872. Many factors must be taken into consideration before the court even begins to consider exercising that discretion. Further a motorist who fails to produce the documents may commit an offence by their non- production. Summary offences should only be restored for hearing if it is considered necessary to meet the justice of the particular case. As far as alerting persons to any alleged offence, notice can be given by different means. This is an either way offence; Section 66 Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 - the making of a false statement to obtain such a document. Hi Jo, I have received a NIP over 14 days later the offence (speeding), I wrote the following letter of appeal, Could you please check if it is correct? When the prosecutor considers instituting proceedings within the extended time limit period, reasons for the delay and any degree of responsibility borne by the offender should be taken into account. Proper recording should take place in any such proceedings and arrangements made for the police to be informed. This may be by direct notification to the relevant police process office for transmission to the court or CPS office, and may include a written acknowledgement given to the person making production, which can be produced at court. The letter is asking me to provide details of the driver of the vehicle. A challenge to justices on their decision not to disqualify because of special reasons should normally be by way of case stated rather than judicial review. The offence under section 1(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, but only if it is the prosecutor's case that (a) the offence was not committed by destroying or damaging property by fire; and (b) the value involved, within the meaning of Schedule 2 to the Magistrates Courts Act 1980, does not exceed 5,000. The prohibition may be applied for a specified period, or without limitation of time. On appeal, the court did not accept that a prosecution could not proceed because of a lack of warning of prosecution where police become aware of the offence after 14 days had passed. In West Yorkshire Probation Board v Boulter [2005] EWHC 2342 (Admin); R v Burns [2006] 2 Cr. The driver will then receive a notice of intended prosecution in his/her own name. The owner of the car will be sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), detailing the offence. The offence under section 63B(8) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Sometimes a similar document called a 'postal requisition' arrives instead. 1 of 2000 sub nom R v J T, Times LR 28 November 2000, [2001] 1 WLR 331, [2001] Crim LR 127), against a decision to acquit on the basis that the provision of a false tachograph record did not constitute forgery contrary to the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, section 1 and section 9. If the points will take you over the 12-point maximum, leading to a minimum six-month ban, you may wish to pursue a plead of 'exceptional hardship'. This penalty notice is called a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP). App. The Reminder normally includes a copy of the original Notice in case you mislaid that or did not . Police across England and Wales will send out many . The Codes of Practice under PACE apply to offences under this legislation as to any other. If such a course is adopted, the reasons should be made clear to the Magistrates' Court. The effect is that the duty of the Director of Public Prosecutions to take over the conduct of all criminal proceedings instituted on behalf of a police force will not include a duty to take over specified proceedings. The phrase "any person" includes, but is not limited to, limited companies or, depending upon evidential criteria, officers of such a company. At its most basic level it is a vehicle which can be propelled by mechanical means. . information online. Failure to provide the relevant information may result in prosecution and the punishment could be worse than for the speeding offence. It does not mean the driver has 24 hours within which to report the collision. It is alleged a speeding offence took place on 14/07/2017. However, that course can be taken where the other offences are serious and are liable to result in a substantial term of imprisonment or period of disqualification, or the defendant has already been sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment in any event. an admission under s.10 Criminal Justice Act 1967; fingerprint evidence pursuant to s.39 Criminal Justice Act 1948; and. if you get a ticket from a speed camera) and must be received within 14 days of the offence (or dispatched so that it would reach the driver within the 14 days within the ordinary course of the post). There is a duty on a person who chooses to drive to ensure that he or she is entitled to do so. Notice of Intended Prosecution. Where a driver has obtained a policy of insurance by deception, the policy will be valid so far as liability under s.143 RTA 1988 is concerned until the insurers have taken steps to "avoid" it. This is an onerous test to pass as it is generally fairly easy for a company to have a system in place which identifies the driver of a company vehicle at any given time, for example a log book kept in the vehicle which allows any drivers to enter the details of his or her journey. When such a point is raised, the prosecution should take into account the reason for the defendant's belief, the distance driven and the degree of risk, if any, to the public when determining whether it is in the public interest to proceed. A Notice of Intended Prosecution (also known as a section 1 warning) is a warning issued under section 1 of the Road Traffic (Offenders) Act 1988. . Further guidance can be found in Wilkinsons Road Offences (29th Edition Chapter 10). You'll need to return this within 28 days, to tell the police who was driving . . It is also subject to the general requirement that any prosecution must be brought within three years of the offence taking place. The NIP must be served on the registered keeper of the vehicle within 14 days of the offence otherwise the offence can't proceed to court. Posting the notice within 14 days will . . Periods of driving spent by a driver whilst performing a transport service falling outside the scope of Regulation No: 3821/85 before taking over a vehicle subject to that Regulation. Where a person is convicted of an offence involving obligatory disqualification the court must order him to be disqualified for such period not less than twelve months as the court thinks fit unless the court for special reasons thinks fit to order him to be disqualified for a shorter period, or not to order him to be disqualified. Acts which breach these sections will often also amount to offences of a more serious nature which carry greater penalties. by Graham Walker | Jan 29, 2013 | Careless Driving, Dangerous Driving | Scotland, Road Traffic Law Scotland, Speed Cameras Latest Advice, Speeding. You can check whether . Failure to provide these details may amount to an offence for which a prosecution could be pursued. It is not possible for you to have your driving documents checked at court. If necessary, the case should be adjourned for validation to be carried out by the police. The court ruled that under Article 15 of EEC Regulation No: 3821/85 of 1985 a driver's obligation to record all other periods of work extends to: Sections 96 and 97(1) TA1968 create absolute offences for the driver. . A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is a warning issued to inform a driver that they may be prosecuted for a motoring offence.