Therefore, any person using a Segway on a road will be driving otherwise than in accordance with a driving licence. A notice of intended prosecution can be served for a range of driving offences, ranging from speeding to careless driving. . These offences are directed at either the driver or the employer. In Cantabria Coach Holdings Ltd v Vehicle Inspectorate [2000] RTR 286 the court took account of the need to ensure effective checking. Single Justice Procedure Notice. Failure to do so will entitle the prosecution not only to seek an adjournment but also to cross-examine the defendant on his failure to give such notice so that the court may consider whether that failure reflected upon his bona fides, see DPP v O'Connor [1992] RTR 66, an authority which is also helpful on the procedural requirements and the general approach to be adopted. Your lease company will receive the ticket. It is important to note, however, that only the registered keeper requires to receive such a warning within 14 days. There was no proper notice of the speed limit. If you do not complete and return the NIP/S172 notice correctly within the 28 day time limit, you face a separate charge of failing to notify driver's details, which is a 6 penalty point offence with a fine of up to 1,000. Although this is the legal definition, ultimately it is a matter of fact and degree for a court to interpret as to whether or not a vehicle is a motor vehicle at the time of the incident. No mens rea is necessary (see Hill v Baxter [1958] 1 All ER 193). Failure to provide these details may amount to an offence for which a prosecution could be pursued. A NIP is intended to warn you that you are going to be prosecuted for a driving offence. Signed: .. Crown Prosecutor / Associate Prosecutor / Police Officer, [delete as appropriate or specify alternative]. In that event the case should not proceed unless the defence agrees to waive the point. 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 driving documents to a police officer on demand or at a nominated police station. See also Restoration of Summary Offences after Trial on Indictment, below in this section. 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? There are four categories: Thirdly, it must be established whether the vehicle concerned is a goods vehicle, or passenger vehicle as distinct provisions apply. What is a Notice of Intended Prosecution? - Notice of Intended "Intended or adapted for use on roads" is also not defined by statute and again is ultimately a matter for the court to decide based on the evidence before it. Current timestamp: 03/03/2023 00:55:41 . It is usually not appropriate to challenge the decision as it involves the exercise of discretion as the Administrative (Divisional) Court is unlikely to interfere if all relevant matters were properly considered. (h) the carrying on the vehicle of any particular means of identification other than any means of identification required to be carried by or under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. However, to establish this defence, it is not sufficient for the defendant merely to show that the breaking or removal of the seal could not have been avoided by himself; he must show that the breaking or removal of the seal could not have been avoided in itself (Vehicle Inspectorate v Sam Anderson (Newhouse) Ltd [2002] RTR 13). third party insurance. The failure to stop is usually viewed as the more serious of the two. Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIPs) | Kent Traffic Law 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. A statutory defence is provided by section 143(3) RTA in relation to a driver who unwittingly drives his employer's uninsured vehicle. Such a warning is normally known as a "notice of intended prosecution", or NIP. The legal loophole you can use to avoid paying a speeding fine Notice of Intended Prosecution; Section 172 notice; They, or in the case of a company vehicle, the company secretary, must return the notice within 28 days telling the police who was . Self-balancing scooters do not currently meet the legal requirements and therefore are not legal for road use. There will be occasions where although the offence under section 22A is made out, the charging of one of the less serious offences listed above will be more appropriate. Otherwise, if there is no alternative, the case might have to be put off to another day for you to return if necessary. A NIP can be issued verbally to the driver at the time of the offence or in written form 14 days from the date of the offence. The Notice of intended prosecution or NIP can either be given verbally at the time of the incident or in writing (i.e. They are capable of speeds up to 12 mph. 1968, so that proceedings relating to the unauthorised taking of a mechanically propelled vehicle may be commenced at any time within six months from the date on which sufficient evidence to bring a prosecution came to the knowledge of the prosecutor. 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.. 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). Under section 6(3) a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor, stating the date on which the necessary evidence came to his knowledge is conclusive evidence of that fact. 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. If you have received a notice of intended prosecution you may be wondering what it is, read on. (d) the weight or physical characteristics of the goods that the vehicle carries, I Have Received A Notice of Intended Prosecution - Forrest Williams Furthermore, considerable time will have elapsed since the alleged commission of the offences. News. It is no defence for a person disqualified in their absence to claim that they did not know that they had been disqualified. Why You Shouldn't Ignore A Notice of Intended Prosecution Notice of Intended Prosecution lawyers. Section 1 RTOA 1988 provides that a defendant cannot be convicted of certain road traffic offences set out in schedule 1 RTOA 1988 unless he or she has been warned that the question of prosecution would be taken into consideration. Questions | West Yorkshire Police Notice of intended prosecution. It does not mean the driver has 24 hours within which to report the collision. The definition of "served . If the notice was served late without a good reason then you can't be prosecuted anyway. Note that this offence requires an intention to deceive by misusing the seal in the manner stated in the section. Where agreeable, and in the absence of any grounds for suspicion, it may be possible to agree (such agreement to include that of the defendant) the use of a facsimile copy or the documents to be sent to an agreed police station for verification and recording to take place while the case is stood down temporarily. The offences under sections 55 and 56 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949. You must respond to a Notice of Intended Prosecution within 28 days of receiving it. 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. Section 103 RTA 1988 - see (Wilkinson's 11-71 to 11-79). As far as management responsibility is concerned subsection (5) of the act says that where a director or senior manager of the company caused or connived with the failure to identify the driver, that person is also guilty. Legal aid Scotland may be able to help in your case, one of our lawyers will . The owner of the car will be sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), detailing the offence. Prosecutors who are dealing with a prosecution for no insurance where the case is based on the driver not meeting some condition of the insurance must be vigilant to check that the exclusion relied upon to make out the offence is not one of those avoided by s.148(2). Category - Ask the These offences are triable either way and punishable with a maximum of two years' imprisonment on indictment. Stephen Oldham Solicitors | Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP In Vehicle Inspectorate v Nuttall [1999] Crim LR 674, the House of Lords held that the Community rules placed a responsibility on employers to use tachograph records to prevent contraventions and to promote road safety. The point must also be borne in mind if it is intended at a later date to add further charges. Know your possible technical defences to protect your licence. If the court subsequently considers that you should be disqualified from driving, it will let you know when you should attend court. Ordinarily, the notice should indicate that production should be made to the police station originally nominated by the driver when the request for production was first made. They are normally sent out when there is about 7 days of the original time limit remaining. The Section 172 notice will ask you to identify the driver of your car during the alleged offence. This was confirmed in the case of Oldham BC v Sajjad [2016] EWHC 3597 (Admin). If you have received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) then the police have evidence that you (or the person driving the vehicle at the time) were travelling in excess of the speed limit. The police should give consideration to training CPS and court staff in the methods used to produce fraudulent documents and have an agreed method of responding to any such documents that are produced in legal proceedings. speeding) The time & date of offence. an admission under s.10 Criminal Justice Act 1967; fingerprint evidence pursuant to s.39 Criminal Justice Act 1948; and. The 14-day requirement only applies to the first NIP sent. If you receive a summons or postal requisition or Notice of Intended Prosecution in relation to a motoring offence, it is important to know whether the Police have complied with . 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. Driving a motor vehicle on a road whilst disqualified is a serious matter since it will usually involve the deliberate flouting of a court order. . Q & A Safety Cameras Scotland See also Shire Traction Co Ltd v Vehicle Inspectorate [2001] RTR 518. Although a NIP must be received within 14 days of the alleged offence, this statutory time limit does not apply to a section 172 demand. Motorists will be encouraged to obtain proper documentation before driving a motor vehicle on the road, thereby increasing the safety of other road users. 0. If this happens you'll have the chance to challenge the case against you. A mechanical defect of which the driver was unaware, may amount to a defence (see R v Spurge [1961] 2 All ER 688), as will the loss of control over the vehicle due to circumstances beyond the control of the driver (see Burns v Bidder [1966] 3 All ER 29). All who deal with cases where document production is made should be alive to the current sophistication of fraudulently produced material. Section 99A TA 1968 gives police and vehicle examination officers the power to prohibit the driving of a UK registered passenger or goods vehicle. 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? For a detailed explanation of the consequences of prosecution and your options for defending a speeding charge, get in touch which our expert road traffic solicitors today. The onus is on the body issuing the Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) to ensure the Notice is served within 14 days. within 28 days you must complete the Section 172 notice declaring who was driving the car at the time of the offence. By post - Speed Enforcement Unit, PO Box 213, Bristol, BS20 1DR; The Codes of Practice under PACE apply to offences under this legislation as to any other. address the court, after the defence, on matters of law and should remind the court that there is a two stage process: first, to determine whether there are special reasons and, second, if there are special reasons, to consider whether to exercise the courts discretion not to endorse or disqualify (or to disqualify for a shorter period that the usual tariff of twelve months), Section 137 Highways Act 1980 (wilful obstruction of the highway), Regulation 103 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 - (causing or permitting a vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause an unnecessary obstruction), Section 22 RTA 1988 (leaving vehicles in a dangerous position), Offences under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Driving Offence Solicitors | Pragma Law 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. Notice of intended prosecution and offence | West Yorkshire Safety The Speeding Ticket 14-Day Rule | Motoring Offence Lawyers In cases where there are no charts available, consideration should be given to prosecuting defendants for this offence where devices have been fitted or wiring/electronics have been tampered with to prevent the tachograph from functioning correctly. The involvement of CPS and court staff as witnesses involving driving documents should obviously be avoided wherever possible. 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. In relation to s172, in general most police forces prosecute the company and not the Directors for failing to identify the driver as this leads to a conviction and fine without any effort. Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink or drugs (section 4(1) RTA), Driving or attempting to drive with excess alcohol in breath, blood or urine (section 5(1)(a) RTA), and, where the Crown Court has made specific reference to matters which it has taken into account when sentencing, the prosecution should not revive or continue with summary offences the substance of which has been reflected in such a sentence. . Proper and more efficient enforcement of the law relating to driving documents, and sanctions for failure to obtain or produce them as required, and the deterrence or detection of fraud, will improve public confidence in the criminal justice system. The following are the matters listed: (a) the age or physical or mental condition of persons driving the vehicle, The Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) will ask the registered keeper of the vehicle to name the driver or rider at the time of the alleged offence; they'll be the same person or a family member in most cases, but sometimes it won't be so straightforward, and it'll be an unknown 'friend of a friend'. 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. Here's everything you need to know and if you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution. There may, from time to time, be cases that call for exceptional treatment and departure from the normal procedures. Neither is a 'special reason' a defence to the charge. For many offenders their prosecution will be their only experience of criminal law enforcement. 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. . Notice Of Intended Prosecution | A Complete Guide | LGBT Lawyers . 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. Time which he necessarily spends travelling (from a point to take over a vehicle subject to that Regulation) which is not the driver's home or the employer's operational centre; and. Many road traffic offences are minor in nature. The offences arising by contravention of Regulations 3(9)(a) (involving a pedal cycle) and 3(9)(b) and 4(27), (28) and (30) of the Royal and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997. Motoring offences which may lead to a NIP being served include: Exceeding the speed limit. Some 'routine' prosecutions, for example under the Construction and Use Regulations and related provisions of the Road Traffic Act (RTA) 1988, may have special significance for the traffic commissioners when dealing with licensing applications from heavy goods vehicle operators. The offence under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. What is the penalty for speeding or running a red-light? The duty to report means 'as soon as reasonably practicable': (Bulman v Bennett [1974] RTR 1). Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) Time Limits - Kang & Co The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines 'road' as a line of communication for use of foot passengers and vehicles; while in Oxford v Austin [1981] RTR 416 it was said to be a definable right of way between two points. Notice Of Intended Prosecution: What Next? | Caddick Davies Arrangements should be made for the relevant officer to attend at the adjourned hearing to inspect and note any documentation produced. In essence the Notice of Intended Prosecution is a document that specifies the nature of the offence and the time and place it is alleged to have been committed. It is an offence, under s.99(5) TA 1968, for a person to knowingly falsify a tachograph entry made under s.97 TA1968 or entries kept for the purpose of regulations under s.98 TA1968 or under applicable Community rules. This offence may often overlap with other statutory offences, namely: When considering the proper charge the prosecutor should consider the appropriate venue for trial. Proper recording should take place in any such proceedings and arrangements made for the police to be informed. CPS and court staff are not trained in the detection of fraud. Such a warning is normally known as a "notice of intended prosecution", or NIP. In deciding whether to rely on the extended time limit, the prosecutor should ensure that he/she is able to ascertain the date on which sufficient evidence to warrant proceedings came to the knowledge of a police officer investigating the incident, since this is a requirement of the procedure. Going to Court for Speeding Offence | Motoring Offence Solicitors Notice of Intended Prosecution - A Guide - Roadtrafficlaw.com Using a mobile phone whilst driving. If a charge under s.2 RTA 1988 is sent to trial on indictment, the issue is for the trial court, unless the prosecutor decides that there has been a fatal non-compliance with the requirement. 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. The Crown Prosecution Service NIPs to the Wrong Address - David Barton | Motorist Lawyer Much will depend on the nature of the error and any explanation given by the defendant. Notice Of Intended Prosecution (NIP) - Dont Disappoint Me This is an either way offence; Section 66 Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 - the making of a false statement to obtain such a document. A. A sample notice is attached at Annex A below. Keep your fingers crossed. 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. There has, however, been extensive case law on the subject and the main point that emerges is what is known as the reasonable man test as per the following cases: Personal transporters, such as the Segway Personal Transporter are powered by electricity and transport a passenger standing on a platform propelled on two or more wheels. 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. In Vehicle Inspectorate v Blakes Chilled Distribution Ltd [2002] 166 JP Jo.118, the Administrative Court held that the intent necessary to prove vicarious liability was established where it could be proved that an employer had failed to take reasonable steps to prevent contraventions by drivers, provided that such failure was not due to honest mistake or accident. Under section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 (extends to England and Wales only) it is an offence to wilfully ride on the footway. Under s.148 RTA 1988 Insurance companies cannot validly restrict an insurance policy by reference to any of the matters listed in s.148(2). Careless driving. It will normally be accompanied with a requirement to provide the details of the driver of the vehicle. Below is a brief summary of their obligations, time limits, potential loopholes to avoid prosecution and common myths. However under Subsection (6) the company must prove that as well as not being able to identify the driver using reasonable diligence it must show that it did not keep a record of who was driving the vehicle and that the failure to keep such records was reasonable. Road Traffic - Summary Offences | The Crown Prosecution Service If you have received a Notice of Intended Prosecution and would like further information, please get in touch by sending me a message, contacting me on 07843 018747 or 0115 784 0382, or by email . A NIP can also be issued to limited companies and the requirement of disclosure is is also obligatory. Where the police do not speak to you personally at the time, they can put this warning on paper and send it to you within 14 days. from 2-196 to 2-221 for a full commentary. Find out about speeding limits and penalties, what to do if you receive a speeding ticket and driver awareness courses. Note that the 6 month time limit in section 99(6) has no effect on the either way time limit and refers only to charts actually seized under this specific power, not to charts removed under the statutory powers. In DPP v Mansfield [1997] RTR 96 the constable who had arrested the defendant for the current offence, and who was present at court, had also arrested him for a previous offence for which the defendant had been disqualified in the constable's absence. If you fail to comply within the statutory 28-day period to return the notice, you will be liable to prosecution and receive six penalty points, in addition to a fine of up to 1,000. 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. Customer: On page 1 of the Notice of Intended Prosecution it states Notice Issue Date: 23/02/2023. If an offence has been recorded . You can find more information about replying to your Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) on our website. In the . Usually this warning will be a document headed " Notice of Intended Prosecution ", called a NIP for short. A copy should be provided to all parties and to the court. It is essential to check files when powers have been exercised to ensure the material sought to be exhibited has been obtained lawfully in order to rebut any application under s.78 PACE. As a consequence, any user of such a vehicle on a public road is likely at the very least to be committing the offences of using the vehicle without insurance and using the vehicle without an excise licence. Then in the first paragraph it lists the incident date as 04/12/22. When the evidence reveals a failure to comply with both subsections (2) and (3), proceedings should be brought for both offences. Making enquiries does not extend the 28 day time limit as stated on the NIP. Prejudice to a defendant by the delay and the lack of early notification of the impending prosecution can be addressed by abuse of process proceedings and s. 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Whilst the Community Rules (EC Regulations) apply throughout the EC, the legislation which makes it an offence to breach those regulations differs from country to country.