The penalties for speeding vary depending on issues like:
- How fast you were going compared to the speed limit
- Whether you plead guilty or not guilty
- How many points you already have on your licence.
Possible penalties include:
- A fine of £100 and three penalty points on your licence (Fixed Penalty Notice)
- A larger fine, between three and six points on your licence, or a short disqualification
- Having to attend a speed awareness course
- Disqualification from driving if you’ve built up 12 or more penalty points within three years
- Your driving licence being cancelled if you’ve built up six points in the first two years after passing your driving test.
We strongly advise you to speak to us if you’ve been charged with a speeding offence. For some speeding offences you can be disqualified from driving, and this could have a devastating impact on your life. It’s important to get clear advice, especially if you’re at risk of a driving disqualification.
Our team of experts have decades of experience in successfully representing clients accused of speeding. We've specialist legal knowledge and can advise you on any available defences.
If you accept the charge against you, we’ll seek the most lenient penalty available. We’ll work towards achieving the best possible outcome for you.
Going it alone in a speeding case could mean you face a hefty fine or penalties that could’ve been avoided if you’d had a legal expert in your corner.
We’ll review your case and advise you on any available defences.
Possible defences to a charge of speeding include:
- Inadequate guidance of the speed limit by way of road signs or street lighting
- The apparent speed limit didn’t apply to the part of the road you were travelling on
- The camera or speed detection device was faulty
- The officer conducting the speed enforcement hasn’t been trained to the required standards
- You didn’t get a Notice of Intended Prosecution within 14 days
- You weren’t charged within six months of the date of the alleged offence.
We’ll review your paperwork, take your full instructions in respect of the speeding offence and your driving record and we will advise you on your options.
We’ll advise you on any available defences and on how we can seek the most lenient penalty.
We’ll also advise you on whether you’re at risk of being disqualified from driving. If you are, we’ll work to help you keep your licence.
Court proceedings will be instigated against you if your case doesn't qualify for a Fixed Penalty Offer or if you fail to accept a Fixed Penalty Offer in time. It’s likely that you will receive a Single Justice Procedure Notice, confirming the charge against you.
A Single Justice Procedure Notice confirms the charge against you, and you’ll need to confirm your plea: Guilty or Not Guilty. If you plead Guilty, you can either choose to be sentenced by the court without having to attend court or you can elect to attend court for sentencing. If you plead Not Guilty, the court will list your case for a Trial.
It’s important you seek legal advice to discuss all your options before you confirm how you wish to proceed.
Contact us to discuss how we can help you.
If you’ve been caught by a speed camera, you should receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) and Section 172 Notice within 14 days of the alleged offence.
A Section 172 Notice requires the registered keeper of the vehicle to provide the identity of the driver at the time of the alleged offence. You’ll need to complete the required information and return the document to the police within 28 days.
Depending on the speed alleged and the speed limit, you’ll either get a Fixed Penalty Notice or court proceedings will begin. This is usually by way of a Single Justice Procedure Notice within six months of the alleged offence.
A Fixed Penalty Notice will include an offer of penalty points and may include an offer to complete a speed awareness course as an alternative to accepting the penalty points. You can’t be offered a speed awareness course if you’ve completed one in the last three years.
If you’ve been stopped by the police, you’ll be given a verbal warning of an intended prosecution for the offence. As a result, you won’t get a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP and Section 172 Notice) in the post. Instead, you’ll receive a Fixed Penalty Notice or court proceedings will be started against you.
In this situation, you know you’ve exceeded the speed limit. You're guilty, but you have Special Reasons for speeding and in these circumstances, it’d be unfair to impose penalty points. For example, a medical emergency may satisfy the court to find Special Reasons in your case.
If you think you've Special Reasons for a speeding offence, contact us today and we can advise you.
You’ll need to attend court and advance your case with evidence. We can arrange for you to represented by a specialist barrister and will help you prepare the best case possible.
