14 day rule to inform of certain driving offences?

Question

is it true that for certain driving offences ( such as driving with undue care and attention) the police must send you a letter within 14 days? does this include weekends?

Answer 1

Yes this is true. there is a requirement on police to issue a notice fo intended prosecution (NIP) for certain offences.
This gives consideration for the sort of offences you may not be aware of having committed.
It does not apply to road traffic accidents and offences realted to accidents, however some forces still issue them in accidents in the interest of fairness.
the list of offences are:
*dangerous, careless or inconsiderate driving / cycling
*failing to comply with traffic signs and directions
*leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position and speeding.
The NIP is not required for any other offences.
The NIP can be delivered orally or in writing and must be sent within 14days fo the offence They do not have to be sent to the offender, it can be to the registered keeper of the car when the driver is not readily known. the 14 days is by the calendar and gives no allowance for weekends/holidays, and it is 14 days to send it, not received by motorist.
Hope this helps. (Police officer, South Wales)

Answer 2

Yes in England and Wales there is such a rule. It applies to certain motoring offences e.g. speeding, dangerous driving, failing to conform to a road sign (traffic lights included.)

The principal of this law is that the Police have to inform you of an offence they intend to prosecute you for within a reasonable time so that you are able to remember what you did. The law sets 14 days as the time they have to notify you.

The fourteen days has to be fourteen clear days and it does include weekends. The notice can be given to you verbally, so if they stop you at the roadside you are normally told verbally. Alternatively they can send written notice to the registered keeper of the vehicle which was involved in the offence.

If the registered keeper of the vehicle receives the notice within 14 days the law is complied with, even if someone else was driving and committed the offence.

Answer 3

The 14 day rule you talk about is called a NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution). There are a number of driving offences covered, which does include driving without due care and attention.

The NIP can be given verbally at the time or sent in a written form. The 14 days does include weekends.

There are some exceptions, which would include being issued with a fixed penalty ticket at the time of the offence, or being interviewed at roadside and reported on summons. In those two instances it would be obvious to you that you were being prosecuted and therefore a NIP is not required.

Answer 4

Its called a written Notice of Intended Prosecution and must be sent within 14 days (including weekends) This is from when the date of the offence became known.

Answer 5

I think it is longer than that I got done for driving through red traffic lights about ten years ago. I was in the wrong and fined quite heavily more so I think because I was also obliged to declare the earnings of my wife and quite rightly refused to do so. But there it is you do the crime and pay the fine and take the points

Answer 6

There is no rule of this kind as far as I know. Some summonses may not be sent for many months, depending on exactly what the police need to investigate.

Answer 7

as long as you are summonsed within 6 months of the date of the offence its nice and legal