Notice of Intended Prosecution Speeding

If you are flashed by a speed camera, the registered keeper of the vehicle should receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within 14 days - offence code SV77010.

If you hear nothing within this time, you should be ok. It is possible that the camera had no film in it, or that the image was insufficiently clear to identify the registration mark of the car.

See below for:

- what to do if you receive an NIP and were not driving

- what happens if you don't receive an NIP

- what happens if you don't return the form

- how long the police have to issue court proceedings

NIP Speeding

If you do receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution, Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act states you must return the NIP Information form with details of who was driving within 28 days. See Defences, if you do not know who was driving. However be aware that you can be liable to a 6 point fine if you do not return the form or provide the information.

If you are not the registered keeper then the police are allowed more time to establish who is the driver. This can often happen, for instance if you are driving a company or hire car or works van or if the vehicle has recently been sold and not yet registered with DVLC.

If you are stopped by a police officer, or there is a police officer at the scene of an accident, the police officer may give you a verbal NIP, and if so a written one is not required.

If there is a significant mistake on the Notice of Intended Prosecution for speeding, then you may have a valid defence. However, under the slip rules, the court can make minor amendments and so you will have no defence in such circumstances.

If you have only recently acquired the vehicle, the police may send the Notice of intended prosecution to the previous registered keeper, who will then of course inform them that the vehicle has been sold. If this error is your fault (eg for not sending in the registration document with your details) then again this will be no defence. See Speeding Defences.

The police have 6 months to issue proceedings, which may be by way of fixed penalty notice or summons.