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. The prohibition may be applied for a specified period, or without limitation of time. 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. Help us to improve our website;let us know My Notice of Intended Prosecution was issued to me after the pursuant to section 6 Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. there was sufficient evidence in my opinion to warrant proceedings against: pursuant to the provisions of section 6 of the said Act. 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. The burden of establishing an exemption under the Community Drivers' Hours and Recording Equipment (Exemptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 1986 rests on the defendant on a balance of probabilities - Gaunt and Another vNelson [1987] RTR 1. Section 96(11) TA 1968 creates offences for breach of the domestic drivers' hours code, while s.96(11)(A) TA 1968 creates offences for breaches of the European Community Regulations. information online. What is a Notice of Intended Prosecution? - Lexology Many road traffic offences are minor in nature. from 2-196 to 2-221 for a full commentary. Where the police refer a case involving a Self-balancing Personal Transporter to the CPS, the prosecutor should, as is usual, consider the facts of the case, having regard to the licensing considerations set out above, and apply the two stages of the full code test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors when deciding whether or not a prosecution should proceed. However, since that offence is summary, if a defendant has been charged with other either way or indictable offences, then charging an offence under s.3 Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981(which is either way) is likely to be more appropriate. 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. driving after making a false declaration as to physical fitness (section 92(10)); failing to notify Secretary of State of onset or deterioration of disability (section 94(3)); driving after refusal of licence under section 92 or 93 (section 94A); failure to surrender licence following revocation (section 99); obtaining driving licence, or driving, whilst disqualified (section 103(1)); using an uninsured motor vehicle (section 143); making a false statement to obtain a driving licence or certificate of insurance (section 174); section 244 RTA 1960 (re offences under section 235 RTA 1960 and section 99(5) Transport Act 1968); section 47(2) VERA 1994 (re offences under sections 29, 34, 35A, 37 or regulations made under the Act); section 73 Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1982 (re offences under sections 65 or 66 of the Act). Providing this information is a legal obligation under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act (RTA). When determining the public interest in prosecuting minor road traffic offences, it must be borne in mind that: Public interest factors which relate to particular offences will be dealt with below. Failure to provide these details may amount to an offence for which a prosecution could be pursued. Although the offence was not one of strict liability, "permitting" in section 96(11A) was to be given a wide meaning of failing to take reasonable steps to prevent contraventions, to be governed by the objective standards of a responsible employer. (c) the number of persons that the vehicle carries, It is also subject to the general requirement that any prosecution must be brought within three years of the offence taking place. The requires the keeper of the vehicle to identify the driver. 'How did 13 women's testimonies secure the fate of se, A bogus doctor has been jailed today for forgery and fraud costing the taxpayer over 1m. I unexpectedly received a letter from the police who at the time intended to prosecute me for driving an electric scooter without insurance, and without a license. Failure to produce your documents at the police station may well result in additional loss and inconvenience to you, and led to an application for additional prosecution costs for the extra work involved. 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. Not only does the offence appear to cover a situation where the seals have been physically altered or tampered with, but also the use of a correctly manufactured and correctly placed seal where it can be proved that the mere use of the seal is accompanied by an intention to deceive. . The term 'motor vehicle' is defined in section 185(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and section 136(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as "a mechanically propelled vehicle, intended or adapted for use on roads". Nothing less than wilfulness or recklessness would suffice. Such a certificate is deemed under sub-section (4) to have been so signed unless the contrary is proved. 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 s.148 RTA 1988 Insurance companies cannot validly restrict an insurance policy by reference to any of the matters listed in s.148(2). These include: Failing to comply with a traffic sign. The registered keeper of a vehicle has a legal obligation to provide details of who was driving at the time of an alleged motoring offence. However, a recent High Court case has offered some very useful clarity on the issue of time limits. Because self-balancing Personal Transporters do not meet the relevant requirements for use on UK roads, and because there is no separate legislation here for public road use by non-EC type-approved vehicles, they cannot be registered and licensed for use on a public road. The Registered Keeper (RK) of the vehicle will receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within 14 days of the offence. Whether such a warning was given "at the time" is a question of degree and the High Court will not interfere in a Magistrates' Court finding on the point if there is evidence to support that finding. Then in the first paragraph it lists the incident date as 04/12/22. Basically a Notice of Intended Prosecution has to be given to you verbally at the time of the alleged offence, or in writing within 14 days, but see below. All these offences are summary, non-endorsable and punishable with a fine at level 4, and subject to a time limit of six months from the date of the offence. If the procurator fiscal decides that the case against you should go ahead, you may have to appear in court. 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. it was clear that in requiring the production of records the Community legislature took account of the need to ensure effective checking; while there was no express power to require the coach operator to hand over tachograph records to the Vehicle Inspectorate, the operator was nevertheless required to produce and hand over such records on demand if such a request was made to him; it was within the discretion of the authorised officer whether he chose to inspect the records at the operator's premises or take them away for more thorough and detailed analysis; the authorised officer should also permit the operator to take copies of any record he proposed to remove from the operator's premises. Much will depend on the nature of the error and any explanation given by the defendant. Directions may also be given to remove the vehicle and, if applicable, any trailer to any place specified. Using a mobile phone whilst driving. A NIP is intended to warn you that you are going to be prosecuted for a driving offence. How to Properly Deal with a Notice of Intended Prosecution NIPs to the Wrong Address - David Barton | Motorist Lawyer For this reason, it is best to seek legal advice before completing a Notice of Intended Prosecution. The police will then be able to check your documents and note the fact that you have produced them. The Code for Crown Prosecutors is a public document, issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions that sets out the general principles Crown Prosecutors should follow when they make decisions on cases. The time limit applies to the notice of intended prosecution. There are circumstances where you may not have received the NIP within 14 . A person disqualified under s.36 RTOA 1988 until a driving test is passed commits an offence under s.103 RTA 1988 if he or she drives whilst disqualified otherwise than in accordance with any provisional licence issued. 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. If the points will take you over the 12-point maximum, leading to a minimum six-month ban, you may wish to pursue a plead of 'exceptional hardship'. Where a summons is issued for failure to produce, the defendant may attempt to produce his documents at court. Section 65 Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 - the forgery or alteration of a licence, certificate or operator's disc issued under the Act, likewise the use with intent to deceive of anything resembling such a document. Motoring offences which may lead to a NIP being served include: Exceeding the speed limit. Questions | West Yorkshire Police Driver Identity Section 172 (S172) of the Road Traffic Act 1988. . Case Study: Speeding . if evidence of excess alcohol has been adduced at the Crown Court trial, it is more than likely that it will have been taken into account for the purpose of sentencing (this will obviously be so in the case of a trial for a section 3A offence); where a defendant has been convicted of an offence contrary to sections 1 or 3A RTA, a summary offence should not normally be restored if the defendant has been disqualified for a period at least as long as the obligatory period for the summary offence; the lapse of time between the date of the offence, the Crown Court trial and the likely date of hearing for the summary matters; if the defendant has been sentenced to a period of imprisonment, restoration of a summary offence will seldom be appropriate. If the company did have such a system but it didnt work on a particular occasion that might suffice as a defence. Notice of intended prosecution loopholes and how they can backfire If that has been served late it does not give the driver an excuse for not replying to the requirement to provide driver details. It will normally be accompanied with a requirement to provide the details of the driver of the vehicle. Failure to specify the date will lead to proceedings being terminated: see David Burwell v DPP [2009] EWHC 1069 (Admin). Bail should be considered for the period of any adjournment and the defendant encouraged to produce the relevant documents in the meantime. . 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. The exceptions include: Section 24 RTOA 1988 (as amended by the Road Safety Act 2006) allows a court which has returned a verdict of 'not guilty' to certain either way and summary offences, to convict for a specified alternative offence, provided that the content of the information or indictment amounts to an allegation of such an offence. You must do this in writing. The statute of limitations for injuries to children only starts at the eighteenth birthday. A Notice of Intended Prosecution is simply notice from the Police that an offence has been recorded and that they intend to prosecute the person responsible. When the evidence reveals a failure to comply with both subsections (2) and (3), proceedings should be brought for both offences. Failing to provide drivers identity carries 6 penalty points on your licence and up to 1000 fine. 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. It is a mitigating or extenuating circumstance which is directly connected with the commission of the offence and which can properly be taken into consideration by the sentencing court. Under s.145 RTA 1988 the policy must be issued by an authorised insurer and must insure for death or bodily injury to any person, or damage to property, caused by, or arising out of, the use of a vehicle on a road in Great Britain, i.e. DPP v Hay [2005] EWHC Admin 1395 - Where a defendant is charged with driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance, and the Crown have proved that the defendant was driving a vehicle on the road, the non-issue by the police of form HO/RT/1 (requesting production of the documents) is not fatal to the prosecution case. Going to Court for Speeding Offence | Motoring Offence Solicitors Where there are other charges alleging offences contrary to section 12(1) Theft Act and/or section 103 RTA 1988 (among others) they can be joined in the indictment under s.40(1) Criminal Justice Act 1988 providing they are founded on the same facts or evidence, or form part of a series of the same or similar character, as an indictable offence which is also charged. 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 . If such an application is made, it should be noted that s.78 gives a discretionary power to the court to exclude evidence. Copyright Roadtrafficlaw.com Solicitors Ltd (c), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). The following points need to be borne in mind: The six-month time limit applies to most summary road traffic offences, but statutory exceptions do occur. There must be evidence upon which a Court can properly infer that an employer gave a positive mandate or some other sufficient act to "cause" the offence to occur. etc. The letter is asking me to provide details of the driver of the vehicle. We can help. Arrangements will then be made for the court to be informed about this. Q & A Safety Cameras Scotland Offences of causing or permitting the uninsured use of a vehicle should be regarded as being as serious as using a motor vehicle without insurance. Where an officer took the records away with him, the rules of natural justice permitted an operator to take copies of the records before they were removed, save in circumstances where, for example, the operator became obstructive or for some other reason that made it impracticable. A notice of intended prosecution can be given: Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA 1988) offences to which s.1 RTOA 1988 applies include: Section 2 RTOA 1988 states that the prosecution does not have to comply with s.1 RTOA 1988 if, owing to the presence on a road of a vehicle in respect of which the offence was committed, an accident occurred at the time of the offence or immediately afterwards. Section 127 MCA 1980 states that for all summary offences the information must be laid within six calendar months of the commission of the offence, except where any other Act expressly provides otherwise. For further commentary see (Wilkinson's 6.01). These offences are directed at either the driver or the employer. A person who drives a vehicle on a road while disqualified by reason of age, commits an offence under s.87 RTA 1988, which prohibits a person driving a vehicle on a road otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising him to do so. 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? GOV.UK is the place to find 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. Here's everything you need to know and if you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution. This notice should be sent to the registered keeper within 14 days of when the speeding offence took place. government's services and 56 Posts. This is an onerous test to pass as it is generally fairly easy for a company to have a system in place which identifies the driver of a company vehicle at any given time, for example a log book kept in the vehicle which allows any drivers to enter the details of his or her journey. You could face prosecution when you fail to respond and provide all the required information. However, that course can be taken where the other offences are serious and are liable to result in a substantial term of imprisonment or period of disqualification, or the defendant has already been sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment in any event. The offence under section 91 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967. 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. Usually NIPs are used by fixed cameras or the talivan overbridge guys who have zapped you with a laser speed detector. Sometimes a similar document called a 'postal requisition' arrives instead. The notice of intended prosecution is automatically regarded to have been served within the time limit unless it is disputed. The summons may also allege that you failed to produce one or more of these or other documents as required by law following a request by the police. The Codes of Practice under PACE apply to offences under this legislation as to any other. In particular s.6 RTOA 1988 provides a special time limit for offences listed in Column 3, Schedule 1 RTOA 1988, and for aiding and abetting those offences. Where no production is made at the nominated police station, the police may issue proceedings that allege either or both allegations that the motorist drove/used a motor vehicle without the proper documentation or that he or she failed to produce them as required by law. In such circumstances the prosecution need to decide which is the more appropriate charge. Section 99A TA 1968 gives police and vehicle examination officers the power to prohibit the driving of a UK registered passenger or goods vehicle. All agencies should be alive to these cases in the interests of justice and respond as required, but no actions should be taken or departure from the standard procedure made where this might prejudice the future interest of any victim. It is a matter for police investigation. It is no defence for a person disqualified in their absence to claim that they did not know that they had been disqualified. In cases of the unauthorised taking of mechanically propelled vehicles, delay can often occur due to the gathering of forensic evidence where the offence is denied. The minimum penalty for speeding or running a red-light is a 100 fine and three penalty points added to your licence.