Contesting a conditional offer of fixed penalty

[Yarrgh]

My wife has just received a conditional offer of a fixed penalty through the post. It's for use of a motor vehicle on a road/ public place - £300 and 6 points.

I've just checked the insurance details and she is a named driver on the insurance which is clearly valid for the time and date on the letter.

There appears to be no option but to inform the ticket office that we will be contesting it in court which seems an unnecessary and costly endeavour.

My question is does anyone know the best way to reply?

To say we will contest it and give a reason plus evidence or is best just to say we are contesting it and then bring the matter up when the court is involved? I presume the court will ask before hand for any evidence or reasons?

Anyone know of any decent online advice? Or best to go to the solicitors pronto for their guidance?

 

[dublinbluenose]

Whats the penalty for? Not having a licence

 

[Shevin Keedy]

Whats the penalty for? Not having a licence

Sounds like driving without insurance, which is obviously incorrect given what Yarrgh has said.

 

[roydo]

It's for use of a motor vehicle on a road/ public place - £300 and 6 points.

Must be more to it than that.

 

[Yarrgh]

Must be more to it than that.

Without insurance but I've just double checked and the insurance clearly states her as a named driver from a policy dated a month prior to the event of the "offence" to the end of next year.

 

[dublinbluenose]

Without insurance but I've just double checked and the insurance clearly states her as a named driver from a policy dated a month prior to the event of the "offence" to the end of next year.

Was she stopped at a checkpoint by a traffic cop?

 

[roydo]

Without insurance but I've just double checked and the insurance clearly states her as a named driver from a policy dated a month prior to the event of the "offence" to the end of next year.

As I found out once, it can take a while for new policies/MOT's to be uploaded onto the system used by ANPR cameras.

edit. And they ping a car, not a driver.

 

[Yarrgh]

Was she stopped at a checkpoint by a traffic cop?

A cyclist rode into the side of the car whilst she was parked getting the shopping out. 100% she did nothing wrong and we suspect that the cyclist did it on purpose. After the policeman turned up and said she wasn't to blame he miraculously did a Van Dijk and cycled off.

 

[Yarrgh]

As I found out once, it can take a while for new policies/MOT's to be uploaded onto the system used by ANPR cameras.

edit. And they ping a car, not a driver.

I suspect that this is probably the case but it would be nice to sort this out without going to court.

 

[dublinbluenose]

Would the bobby not have asked her for her insurance at the time? Seems like a massive waste of time for you.

 

[royalblue66]

How many days between so called offence and being notified ?

 

[roydo]

I suspect that this is probably the case but it would be nice to sort this out without going to court.

I would make a call to the insurer first; get them to confirm the cover was in place, (in a letter), and send that to them.

 

[Yarrgh]

Would the bobby not have asked her for her insurance at the time? Seems like a massive waste of time for you.

I think she flim flammed around the subject as she was highly stressed. (I have sympathy with the police officer on this one)

 

[Yarrgh]

How many days between so called offence and being notified ?

21/12/2021 offence and 09/01/2022 date on the letter.

 

[tommye]

@Bungle's mate is a solicitor and can offer sound advice.
He'll be along shortly