Got a ticket?

You break the speed limit, or jump a red traffic light, and the camera flashes. What happens now?

The film or video will be viewed by our Safety Camera Unit and details of the offence, including the registration number of the vehicle, are entered on a central computer. If you are the registered owner of the vehicle correspondence will be issued within 14 days of the offence.

A summary of what you need to do next is provided below. For answers to frequently asked questions please click on the links below.

Step One – Receiving your Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP)

The Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is the first letter you will receive if you are the registered owner of the vehicle that was photographed by the safety camera. You are required by law to complete the NIP form to provide details of the driver at the time of the offence, and return it within 28 days.

It is an offence not to provide the information required and you will be prosecuted if you do not do so. Click on the link below for answers to frequently asked questions about the NIP.

Step two – Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty Notice

If you have completed the NIP in the allotted time and have identified yourself as the driver at the time of the offence, you will be notified of how prosecution will proceed.

A Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty Notice may be issued. If you take up the offer this means that the matter could be dealt with without a court hearing. Instead you can opt to pay a £60 fine, and your driving licence would be endorsed with three penalty points. You should submit payment and your driving licence by post within 28 days.

If you already have nine penalty points or more, or if you did not have a valid driving licence at the time of the offence, you will not be able to take up the Conditional Offer, and the matter will be dealt with directly by Her Majesty's Court Services.

Where the offence is considered to be too serious to be dealt with by way of a Conditional Offer, a summons would be issued and the matter dealt with at her Majesty's Court Services.

You may wish to contest the allegation at court, which is your right. However, if found guilty the Magistrates may impose a fine of up to £1,000, endorse your licence with up to six penalty points, and you may have to pay court costs too.

If you fail to respond to the NIP or the Conditional Offer within the allotted time, a summons will be issued and you may be required to attend a Magistrate’s Court in the area where the alleged speeding or red light jumping offence took place.

Click on the links below for guidance on how to fill in the NIP and Conditional Offer forms. Please note that this is general information only - always consult a solicitor for more specific advice.