speeding

[missesbell]

Back in March, a friend was "clocked" speeding in a 50 mile an hour area in Wales by a LASTEC machine.He has only just received notification in the post of the offence. This is 6 months almost to the day since the offence. Can anyone give me reliable information about whether this time lapse is acceptable??? Thanks

[Ethel]

What exactly has he received?

Was he stopped at the time of the offence?

[missesbell]

He was advised of the offence within about 2 weeks and had to send off his licence. He has jst (within the last 3 days) received notification that he is due in court on Oct 6th. The offence was 2nd March

[New Judge]

The rules are straightforward.

If he was not stopped at the time of the offence, the prosecutors must send a Notice of Intended Prosecution (a �NIP�) to the registered keeper of the vehicle and post it so that in normal circumstances it will arrive within 14 days of the alleged offence (with the day of the offence being counted as day one). It seems this has been done.

After that the prosecutor has six months to �lay an information� before the court (that is, to start proceedings). It seems also that this has been done (just).

You do not mention whether a fixed penalty offer was sent along with the NIP. If it was not it could be for one of two reasons: either the driver already had nine or more points on his licence and would thus become liable to disqualification under the �totting up� rules, or the speed was excessive and beyond the limit where a fixed penalty is considered suitable. (In a 50mph limit a summons is usually issued if the speed exceeds 75mph).

[Ethel]

So all is in order and the police have complied with the rules.

I thought you meant this was the very first communication he'd had from the police, but all the formalities and legal requirements have been met