Fixed Penalty Notices: Speeding and Parking

When police detect you speeding (by camera or in person), they may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice offering:

• A £100 fine and 3 penalty points on your licence, or
• A Speed Awareness Course (if eligible) instead of points — this typically costs £80–£100 and must be completed online or in person within a set period

For more serious speeding (significantly above the limit), the matter may be referred directly to court without an FPN option. For camera-detected offences, a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) must be sent within 14 days of the offence — if it is not, the prosecution cannot proceed. The NIP is sent to the registered keeper's address on the DVLA database, so keep your V5C up to date.

You can choose to reject an FPN and have the matter heard in a magistrates' court. Reasons to consider this include:

• You believe you were not speeding (e.g., you dispute the camera reading)
• You believe there are procedural errors in the notice
• You have a legal defence

However, be aware of the risks: if you are found guilty at court, the magistrates are not bound by the FPN penalty. Fines for speeding are based on a percentage of weekly income and can reach up to 150% of weekly income for bands B and C. Court costs and victim surcharge are also added. Only elect for court if you have a genuine defence and ideally after taking legal advice.

Most parking enforcement on public roads and in council car parks is now carried out by local authorities rather than the police. Local authority parking enforcement results in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) — different from a police FPN:

• PCNs do not carry penalty points — they are civil penalties, not criminal offences.
• Typical PCN amounts: £50–£130 in London; £50–£70 outside London. Payment within 14 days usually results in a 50% discount.
• If you believe the PCN was issued incorrectly, you can appeal — first to the council (informal challenge, then formal representation), then to the independent adjudicator (PATAS in London; PATROL outside London).

Private parking companies (car parks on private land) issue different notices — Parking Charge Notices — which are contractual charges, not civil penalties. Different rules apply and you should not confuse them with local authority PCNs.

For first-time speeding offences where the speed was not excessively above the limit, drivers may be offered a National Speed Awareness Course instead of penalty points. Eligibility criteria:

• You have not attended a speed awareness course in the previous 3 years
• Your speed was within a range set by the police force (typically the limit + 10% + 2mph, up to the limit + 10% + 9mph)

Accepting the course means no points on your licence and no FPN fine — though you pay for the course (typically £80–£100). The course is not recorded on your driving licence but your insurer may ask about it on renewal — you must disclose it if asked. Completing the course does not guarantee your premium will not increase.

Road traffic offences are heard in the magistrates' court. Understanding the process helps you decide whether to accept an FPN, attend a speed awareness course, or contest the matter.

How cases reach court

A case reaches the magistrates' court in one of four ways: you elect for court instead of accepting an FPN; you fail to respond to an FPN within 28 days (resulting in an automatic court summons); the offence is too serious for an FPN (e.g., excessive speeding, dangerous driving); or you fail to identify the driver as required under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

The court process

You will receive a Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN) or a summons by post. For minor offences you can respond on paper without attending court. For more serious matters, you must attend in person. At the hearing:

1. The prosecution sets out the alleged offence and evidence (camera footage, officer notes, calibration certificate).
2. You enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
3. If not guilty, a trial date is set. The prosecution must prove the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
4. If guilty (or found guilty after trial), the court sentences you. Sentencing Council guidelines set out the appropriate fine band, points, or disqualification period for each road traffic offence.

Sentencing bands for speeding

The Sentencing Council's magistrates' guidelines use three bands for speeding:

• Band A: Slightly above the limit (typically limit + 1–10mph). Fine: 25–75% of weekly income. Usually 3 points.
• Band B: Moderately above the limit. Fine: 75–125% of weekly income. Usually 4–6 points or a short disqualification of 7–28 days.
• Band C: Significantly above the limit. Fine: 125–175% of weekly income. Disqualification of 6–8 weeks or 6 points.

Fines are means-tested — the court calculates your weekly income and applies the band percentage. A Band B fine for a driver earning £500 a week is therefore £375–£625, substantially more than the £100 FPN. This is why electing for court when the evidence is strong against you is usually financially unwise.

Special Reasons

Even if you are found guilty, you can ask the court to consider special reasons not to endorse points or disqualify. Special reasons relate to the offence itself — for example, laced drinks (alcohol added to your drink without your knowledge), a genuine emergency (driving to hospital in an emergency), or a genuine mistake about the speed limit where signs were obscured. Special reasons are distinct from exceptional hardship (which relates to the consequences of a ban, not the offence). If special reasons are accepted, the court can decline to impose points or a ban even though you are found guilty.