Have you been given a speeding fine in Wales and feel unsure about what to do next? You’re not alone. Every month, over 130,000 people visit our website seeking guidance on fines and parking tickets.
This article aims to help you understand:
What a speeding fine in Wales means
Why speeding fines are issued
If you must pay your fine straight away
How you can challenge your speeding fine
Situations where you might not have to pay
We know how frustrating it can be to receive a speeding fine. It can lead to many questions, such as, ‘Should I pay or appeal?’ or ‘How much will I have to pay?
Don’t worry; we are here to walk you through the steps of understanding and dealing with your speeding fine in Wales.
Why are speeding fines issued?
Speeding fines are hefty to deter motorists from driving too fast.
Whether on a motorway, on rural roads or in towns, authorities adopt a no-nonsense approach to speeding.
In short, you’re expected to respect the speed limit wherever you’re driving.
Unfortunately, however, it’s all too tempting to exceed the speed limit. Whether because of an open road or because you’re running late!
And sometimes, just for the hell of it.
You could be caught by an officer, or the offence could be recorded on a speed camera.
Moreover, depending on how fast you are going dictates the outcome of a prosecution!
When you get a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for speeding, it’s best not to ignore things.
A police officer has your details immediately, and you won’t get a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP).
Are there different types of speed cameras?
Yes, there are different types of speed cameras in the UK.
Most cameras are rear-facing but some are not, some of which I’ve listed here:
Truvelo Combi cameras
Radar and laser gun speed cameras
Long Ranger cameras
Do speed cameras allow 10 percent?
You should be allowed 10% + 2mph over a set speed limit, compensating for the difference between a speed camera and your speedometer reading.
But not all speed cameras allow the percentage!
Can I challenge a speeding fine in Wales?
You could challenge a speeding fine in Wales, and one excuse motorists use is that they were not the driver when the ticket was issued.
Other reasons for contesting a speeding fine include:
You got a Notice of Impending Prosecution (NIP), but the details contained in the notice were incorrect or incomplete
There were no signs indicating a speed limit
The speed camera or radar gun was not calibrated correctly, which is very hard to prove
Note: Without a valid reason for challenging a speeding fine in Wales, your challenge could fall on deaf ears! Furthermore, the fine could become much more expensive if your appeal fails.
Should I appeal a speeding ticket in Wales?
You could challenge a speeding ticket Wales provided you have a valid reason.
But it’s worth noting that only a tiny percentage of challenges are successful.
Even when you have legal representation, there’s no guarantee you’ll get off.
The authorities have photographic evidence, which can be hard to challenge.
That said, the small percentage of challenges that succeed are based on technicalities.
For example:
Was the speeding fine issued correctly?
Are the details correct on the fine?
You could contest the fine if you were not the driver when the speeding ticket was issued.
But you are obliged to provide the driver’s details.
The fines and penalties for withholding the information are severe.
Note: If you say you can’t remember who was driving, you risk being given a £2,500 fine!
Check out the confusion on speed limits in Wales as demonstrated by this motorist.
Should I represent myself for a speeding fine in Wales?
It depends on whether you exceeded a speed limit by a lot or just over it.
When you think you might get a driving ban, it could be worth seeking legal representation.
However, if you were travelling just over the speed limit, you could represent yourself, and it’s much cheaper to do so.
You could plead guilty and accept the consequences!
How long does it take to get a speeding fine in Wales?
A police officer would write you up a fixed penalty notice (FPN) when you’re caught speeding.
In short, you won’t be sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) when you’re stopped by a police officer.
When you’re caught speeding on a camera or radar gun, a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is sent to the registered keeper within 14 days of the alleged offence.
You must respond to the NIP within 28 days and provide information on whether you plan to pay or contest the fine.
What defence could I use to contest a speeding fine in Wales?
You could argue the following when challenging a speeding fine you got in Wales:
You were not the driver when the ticket was issued. You are legally obliged to say who was driving, and the penalties are severe when you don’t
The signs indicating a speed limit were missing or incorrect
The speed camera or radar gun was not calibrated correctly (hard to prove)
As I see it, you should seek legal advice before challenging a speeding fine in Wales. It could save you lots of time and money!
How much is a UK speeding fine?
The cost of a UK speeding fine depends on how fast you travelled over a limit and where the offence occurred.
For instance, exceeding the speed limit on a motorway could earn you a £1000 fine.
However, the maximum penalty is £2,500!
That said, the lowest speeding fine is set at £100 with the addition of 3 penalty points.
You can use my free speeding fine calculator to get an estimate of the cost of your fine.
Do you get disqualified with 12 points?
When you amass 12+ penalty points on your driving licence, you are automatically banned for six months and have to attend a court hearing.
What are the implications on car insurance?
You’ll find that your insurance premium will go up when you get penalty points on a licence for speeding.
Insurers see you as a higher risk and therefore, more likely to file an expensive claim than a driver with a clean licence.
Do they always offer speed awareness courses?
No, not all drivers are offered the opportunity to go on a speed awareness course when they’re caught speeding.
Not all police forces offer this option.
Plus, to qualify drivers can’t have attended a course in the previous three years.
What is the 14-day rule for a Notice of Intended Prosecution?
The Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is sent to the registered keeper 14 days after a speeding offence is recorded.
The only exception is when you get a verbal notice from a police officer at the time of the offence.
What if the NIP arrives after 14 days?
You could challenge the penalty if the NIP arrives 14 days after the offence.
Moreover, you can’t be prosecuted for an alleged speeding offence if the NIP does arrive within the specified deadline.
Moreover, you won’t get any penalty points either!
Note: This doesn’t apply to verbal notices. A police officer gathers your information when they give you a FPN. In short, you’ll be given a fixed penalty notice. Therefore, no Notice of Impending Prosecution is sent out!
How many FPNs are issued in Wales?
According to government statistics, 74,400 FPNs were issued in Wales in 2021 with 83% of them being for speeding offences.
Lastly, do you pay or appeal a speeding fine Wales?
Only very tiny percentages of speeding fine challenges are successful, even with legal representation.
Most successful challenges are based on technicalities.
Moreover, an original speeding fine could quickly become a lot more expensive. There’ll be court costs, lawyer fees and other expenses to pay.
If the fine is low and you have a clean licence, consider paying the fine and accept the penalty points.
Your insurance may go up, but it could be cheaper than contesting the fine in the long run.
Thanks for reading this post on speeding fines Wales. Hopefully, you have enough information on whether it’s worth challenging the fine or simply paying it!
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