government's services and Your lease company will receive the ticket. information online. The same considerations will thus apply. 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). Age prohibitions on driving are set out in s.101 RTA 1988. 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. You should note however, that the production to the police of these documents now will not be a defence to any prosecution for failing to produce the documents within seven days of the date of the original request. This can be communicated verbally to you at the scene of the alleged crime, or it can be posted or served to you. . You may have heard that if you get a speeding ticket through the post more than 14 . If you don't send the police the driver's details within the time they state then . Dear Camera and Tickets office, Notice of Intended Prosecution: 0353050313275720 I write to acknowledge receipt of your Notice of Intended Prosecution above-referenced dated 06/08/2021, which mentions the alleged offence dated 26/06/2021 and . 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. Certain exceptions do apply however where it can be shown that the keeper did not know and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained who the driver of the vehicle was (S172.4). At its most basic level it is a vehicle which can be propelled by mechanical means. 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. Under s.1(3) RTOA 1988 the requirements of that section are deemed to have been met unless and until the contrary is proved. No member of the Crown Prosecution Service or agent acting for them, or member of the magistrates' court staff should ordinarily be required to inspect or verify a motorist's driving documents relevant to a prosecution before the court. This may involve having the case stood down (or adjourned) while this production is made. "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. Many road traffic offences are minor in nature. The 14-day requirement only applies to the first NIP sent. But if an intent to deceive can be proved an either way offence under s.97AA TA1968 or s.99(5) TA 1988 should be preferred instead. Driving Bans Explained. For this reason, it is best to seek legal advice before completing a Notice of Intended Prosecution. Section 99A TA 1968 gives police and vehicle examination officers the power to prohibit the driving of a UK registered passenger or goods vehicle. This was confirmed in the case of Oldham BC v Sajjad [2016] EWHC 3597 (Admin). These offences are directed at either the driver or the employer. It will normally be accompanied with a requirement to provide the details of the driver of the vehicle. 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. Care should also be taken to ensure that sufficient charges are put to enable the gravity of the offence to be reflected in the sentencing process. Providing this information is a legal obligation under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act (RTA). Otherwise, if there is no alternative, the case might have to be put off to another day for you to return if necessary. Arrangements should be made for the relevant officer to attend at the adjourned hearing to inspect and note any documentation produced. Once police have received written confirmation from the driver, it is the drivers' choice to either accept: To assist victims in any future claim for compensation, a written record should be kept of all relevant details about the driving documents produced to the police. In that event the case should not proceed unless the defence agrees to waive the point. 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. A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) / Requirement for Driver details (172) must be completed and returned within 28 days of the date on the form. Section 2(3) RTOA 1988 provides that a failure to meet the requirements shall not prevent conviction where the court is satisfied that: R v R [2012] EWCA Crim 2887 was an appeal against a terminating ruling that the requirements of s.1(1) RTOA 1988 were a bar to conviction on a count alleging that the respondent drove a motorbike dangerously. If the prosecution is taken by surprise by the issue, an application to adjourn to call a witness can be made - see R on the application of. (f) the horsepower or cylinder capacity or value of the vehicle, The driver will then receive a notice of intended prosecution in his/her own name. In Skills Motor Coaches Ltd, Farmer, Burley and Denman (Case C-297/99), the European Court of Justice held that time spent on activities having a bearing on driving, such as time spent reaching the pick-up point for a tachograph vehicle, would affect his state of tiredness and must be regarded as forming part of 'all other periods of work' within Article 15 of Regulation No. 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. 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. An allegation of driving without insurance should never be withdrawn as a matter of convenience when pleas of guilty are tendered in respect of other offences. What happens after a notice of intended prosecution? Section 170(2) RTA 1988 provides that the driver of the motor vehicle must stop and, if required to do so by any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring, give his name and address, the name and address of the owner of the vehicle and the identification marks of the vehicle. 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. 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. Any such notice should also warn defendants of the seriousness of producing or attempting to produce any forged or unlawful documentation with attempt to deceive. It is no defence that the defendant did not think he was driving on a public road. If the keeper is uncertain who was driving their vehicle they may still guilty of an offence unless they either provide the name of the driver or . The National Protocol for Production and Inspection of Driving Documents 2002, see Annex A below, provides guidance on production of such documents. The prosecution should not seek to secure convictions on both. 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. 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. The onus is on the body issuing the Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) to ensure the Notice is served within 14 days. note part 19 of the Criminal Procedure Rules (Expert Evidence) and secure expert evidence where the defence expert's statement is incorrect, inconclusive or misleading. The offence under section 12 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. On 22nd November 2017 a Notice of Intended Prosecution/Section 172 request was sent to Mr Brown that was dated 22nd November 2017 by Royal . The offence under section 80 of the Explosives Act 1875. I cannot prove this ( I do have a couple of texts I sent around the time stating . Single Justice Procedure Notice. 08 October 2018 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. 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. Under section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 (extends to England and Wales only) it is an offence to wilfully ride on the footway. The expression 'traffic sign' is defined in section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the colour, size and type of signs are prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002. 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. 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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. I have received a NIP for speeding, however at the date and time shown on the notice, I am 99% sure I was at home with the car. 3821/85. It is also subject to the general requirement that any prosecution must be brought within three years of the offence taking place. 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. It may then be possible for your case to be dealt with in your absence, but only if you have been offered this opportunity in the other documents that are with the summons and you return the necessary documents to the court in time with the required details. Where the offence is triable summarily only, it will normally be heard by the magistrates' court which covers that area where the offence occurs, but all magistrates' courts have jurisdiction to try any summary offence s.2(1) Magistrates' Courts Act 1980. Notice of Intended Prosecution. However there is an exemption if the Police cannot reasonably obtain the keeper's details within that time, for example if the DVLA has no keeper details or they are incomplete. Courts should be aware of the opportunity to proceed in the defendant's absence thereafter if either a satisfactory production is made, or the defendant does not cooperate and fails to return. Section 3 (careless driving/driving without reasonable consideration), Section 22 (leaving the vehicle in a dangerous position), Sections 35 and 36 (disobeying certain traffic signs and police signals) And under the Road Traffic Regulation Act. See also DPP v Vivier [1991] Crim LR 637, DPP v Neville [1996] 160 JP 758 and Cutter v Eagle Star Insurance Co. Ltd, Clarke v Kato and Others [1998] 4 All ER 417. 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. Typically, you can expect to receive a notice of intended prosecution on the spot by the police after an alleged driving offence or via the post. The words 'uses', 'causes' and 'permits' are deemed to have the same meaning for the purposes of the TA as they have for the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts. 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. A. In West Yorkshire Probation Board v Boulter [2005] EWHC 2342 (Admin); R v Burns [2006] 2 Cr. Using a mobile phone whilst driving. 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. In relation to the controversial right to silence argument, the ECHR verdict in (halloran and francis) enable the British Government to continue to force motorists to incriminate themselves using S172 of the Road Traffic Act, which is almost always the only evidence of the drivers identity in speed camera cases (e) the time at which or the areas within which the vehicle is used, by serving the defendant with a summons within 14 days of the offence; or. (g) the carrying on the vehicle of any particular apparatus, or Section 6 applies to the following offences under RTA 1988: Section 37 of the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 amends the time limit in the Theft Act. It needs to be made clear that this is separate and distinct from a requirement to identify the driver of a vehicle under section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. 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. The offences under sections 55 and 56 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949. The time limit for service of the NIP is a very important aspect of a succesful prosecution therefore if there has been a delay you should get in touch with a solicitor and obtain case specific advice. It can include both electrically and steam powered vehicles. Notice of Intended Prosecution. Summary offences should only be restored for hearing if it is considered necessary to meet the justice of the particular case. A NIP will often be followed by a 'summons' which is a document that literally summon s the keeper of a vehicle or the driver to court. But usually charges under RTA 1988 and VERA 1994 should be preferred unless a defendant has committed a series of offences on a substantial scale for personal gain. As a general rule, if you're caught travelling in excess of 45% . Assessment of the role played by each person in the company/operator in the case of large scale prosecutions; Whether there has been systematic flouting of the law resulting in widespread falsification of records endorsed by management. The police should regularly update the CPS and court staff of any local or national criminal activity with regard to motoring documents and their use. It was clear that in requiring the production of a document or the handing over of records Article 14(2) of Council Regulation 3821/85 and s.99 Transport Act 1968 should be interpreted so that it was within the officer's discretion whether he chose to inspect the charts at the operators' premises or take them away for further analysis. The prosecution has a duty to assist the court by ensuring that correct and full information, both in law and fact, is given. A Notice of Intended Prosecution must be served on the vehicle's DVLA registered keeper within 14 days after the date of the alleged offence. Directions may also be given to remove the vehicle and, if applicable, any trailer to any place specified. 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. . 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. The statute of limitations for injuries to children only starts at the eighteenth birthday. For those that attend court without having driving documents checked at a police station, the case is highly likely be put off so that you can take the documents to the nominated police station and have them checked there. It is important to remember, however, that the alternative verdict can only be returned where the jury or magistrates have found the defendant 'not guilty' of the substantive charge. See also Restoration of Summary Offences after Trial on Indictment, below in this section. Should any defendant refuse to co-operate with the above procedure, not guilty pleas should be noted, and the case adjourned for trial or review. Notice of intended prosecution (NIP) - informs the registered keeper that the police want to prosecute the driver for an offence. In computing the limitation period the day on which the offence was committed is not included. 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. The duty to stop means to stop sufficiently long enough to exchange the particulars above: (Lee v Knapp [1966] 3 All ER 961). It should, however, be remembered that the driver is the 'person at the wheel; Falsification of records usually takes place to enable more journeys to be undertaken than would be possible during lawful working hours, thereby jeopardising road safety. 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. Such alternative verdicts are permitted in relation to the summary offences of: Alternative verdicts under sections 4(1), 5(1)(a), 7(6), 4(2), 5(1)(b) or 29 RTA 1988 may be returned as appropriate, despite the fact that the six month time limit for those offences are likely to have lapsed. The notice of intended prosecution will be accompanied by a Section 172 notice, which you are required to complete to confirm the identity of the driver. 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. The law states that unless a notice of intended prosecution is served within the time limit set out that the person concerned will not be convicted - it doesn't state that the process stops . Current timestamp: 02/03/2023 01:38:55 . Contravening a traffic signal. 0. However, the Divisional Court held that the purported restriction fell within s.148(2)(e) and was therefore void. A statutory defence is provided by section 143(3) RTA in relation to a driver who unwittingly drives his employer's uninsured vehicle. If the Police do not comply with the rules and time limits, they cannot prosecute. A person who fails to comply with subsection (2) or (3) above is guilty of an offence punishable with a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment. Local arrangements should be agreed for the speedy and efficient notification to the court that acceptable, or otherwise, production has been made. It is regularly updated to reflect changes in law and practice. If the defence objects and the Court upholds the objection, the prosecution cannot be properly criticised for any resulting delay. App. July 19, 2019. 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. Legal aid Scotland may be able to help in your case, one of our lawyers will . received for the purposes of considering whether there are grounds for mitigating the normal consequences of a conviction under s.35(1) Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (RTOA 1988) (disqualification for repeated offences). There is a duty on a person who chooses to drive to ensure that he or she is entitled to do so. It is enough that it is received by a member of his staff impliedly authorised to receive it. All staff, including agents, and magistrates who deal with motoring cases should receive training so that they may be aware of the terms of this protocol. However, courts should be reluctant to disqualify offenders in their absence because of this potential problem. 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'. The vehicle caught speeding . You have been summoned to attend court for either not having one or more documents, as required, for using a motor vehicle on a road (or public place). the nature of the special reason and the evidence (including expert evidence) required to rebut it; what evidence can be properly served under section 9 CJA 1967 and. Proceedings cease to be specified if a magistrates' court begins to receive evidence in those proceedings other than evidence that is: Proceedings for an offence mentioned in the Schedule are not specified if the defendant is charged under s.37(7)(d) Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984) or the defendant is less than 16 years old at the time when a summons or requisition is issued in respect of the offence - S.3(1A and B) Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. A Notice of Intended Prosecution will be issued to the offender in the post automatically after you've been snapped by a speed camera. Section 8 warrants authorised under PACE and s.7 warrants authorised under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. If the requirement to provide this information is not complied with, a . 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. Self-balancing Personal Transporters can be used on private property with the permission of the landowner. . 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. The onus is on the prosecution to establish that a particular location is a "road" or a "public place". Hence time limits are of particular significance since for various reasons substantial delay may occur before it is decided to institute proceedings. 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. Failing to provide drivers identity carries 6 penalty points on your licence and up to 1000 fine. Motorists, who have been unable to produce their driving documents on demand, following a lawful request by a police officer, should produce them for inspection within the required statutory period at a police station of their choice. NIPs can also be issued . If you have been served a Notice of Intended Prosecution then you should contact our road traffic lawyers immediately. GOV.UK is the place to find 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. The Crown Prosecution Service The Transport Act 1968 does not apply to any other part of the EC, including Northern Ireland.