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#Post#: 94067--------------------------------------------------
Conditional offer of fixed penalty
By: Anon2025 Date: October 14, 2025, 12:11 pm
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I need help/advice. I received an NIP on 21/08/2025 for a
speeding offence (58 on a 50) on 25/04/2025. The address on my
v5c was not accurate at the time of offence. However, I updated
the address on v5c in June to Address B. The address on my v5c
at the time of offence was address A. However, in July I moved
address again and so updated my address again to Address C. When
I moved to address C I also paid for royal mail mail redirection
so that all mail going to address B would be redirected to
Address C. I returned the s172 form identifying myself as the
driver. I now got a Conditional Offer if Fixed Penalty (£100
fine + 3 points) dated 18/09/2025. I have been given 28 days to
either pay the fine and except the points, or option B is "if
you wish to decline or are unable to accept this offer, or want
to contest this offence please request a magistrates' court
hearing by writing to the address at the top of this letter". It
says on there that "if you do not choose one of these options
within 28 days, we will refer your case to a magistrates' court.
Day 28 from this letter will be 16/10/2025, and 25/10/2025 would
mark 6 months from the date of offence. I have heard that the
police have only 6 months from date of offence to lay
information to the court (or in other words, refer me to court).
That means they have 9 days to lay information to the court.
Now my question is -
1) do the met police get automatically notified on their system
that my 28 day period is over and that I havent responded yet?
Because if they do get notified then that means their systems
are automated and 9 days would be plenty time for then to refer
me to court.
2) what happens if i ignore the letter, is there an added fine
and penalty points if I am found guilty in court?
3) if I do decide to dispute, can I do so on grounds that they
have sent the NIP to Address B even though I had updated my
address with DVLA a month back? The only reason I ever got the
NIP was because of the royal mail redirection that I had paid
for.
4) say if i forget to respond to the COFP, and they realise this
AFTER the 6 month period, can they still take me to court on
grounds that I havent responded to them?
5) are my chances high of them not having enough time (only 9
days) to lay my information to court?
Just as an FYI I had already attended a speeding course last
year so that's why I wasnt offered one this time.
Your time and advice is much appreciated.
#Post#: 94071--------------------------------------------------
Re: Conditional offer of fixed penalty
By: JustLoveCars Date: October 14, 2025, 12:28 pm
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[quote author=Anon2025 link=topic=8397.msg94067#msg94067
date=1760461910]
1) do the met police get automatically notified on their system
that my 28 day period is over and that I havent responded yet?
Because if they do get notified then that means their systems
are automated and 9 days would be plenty time for then to refer
me to court. Their systems will almost certainly progress the
matter to court if necessary
2) what happens if i ignore the letter, is there an added fine
and penalty points if I am found guilty in court? Oh, yes - the
fine is income related (50% of weekly income) along with costs
(£90 for guilty plea) and surcharge (40% of the fine) but still
3 points
3) if I do decide to dispute, can I do so on grounds that they
have sent the NIP to Address B even though I had updated my
address with DVLA a month back? The only reason I ever got the
NIP was because of the royal mail redirection that I had paid
for. No - you have already stated your V5C was incorrect on the
date of the offence, one presumes they sent the NIP to that
address within 14 days. It seems they put some effort in
tracing you (MIB?) instead of prosecuting for a s172 offence
4) say if i forget to respond to the COFP, and they realise this
AFTER the 6 month period, can they still take me to court on
grounds that I havent responded to them? Offences 'time out'
after 6 months - if they progressed such a case you would have a
defence
5) are my chances high of them not having enough time (only 9
days) to lay my information to court? A high risk strategy IMHO
[/quote]
#Post#: 94088--------------------------------------------------
Re: Conditional offer of fixed penalty
By: ManxTom Date: October 14, 2025, 1:29 pm
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In the immortal words of Harry Callahan: "... you've got to ask
yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you, punk?"
Unless you have a good defence - which you haven't bothered to
mention any detail of - possibly best to accept the offer.
What do you think?
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