NIP Received After 14 Days
Does the 14-day rule mean your speeding ticket is invalid? Read exactly how the law works and when you can challenge a late Notice of Intended Prosecution.
The 14-Day Legal Requirement
Under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, the Police must serve a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) to the registered keeper of the vehicle within 14 days of the offence.
Exceptions to the 14-Day Rule
If your NIP arrived late, it is not automatically invalid. The Police are exempt from the 14-day rule in several scenarios:
- You are not the registered keeper (e.g. lease car, company vehicle, or rental). The Police only have to notify the registered keeper within 14 days.
- You recently changed your address and the DVLA records were not updated promptly.
- The Police could not reasonably establish the identity of the registered keeper in time.
If none of these exceptions apply to you and you can prove the NIP arrived late (such as keeping the postmarked envelope), you may have a strong legal defence to have the charge dropped.
Rule Summary
- StatuteRTOA 1988
- TargetRegistered Keeper Only
- Postage ProofKeep the envelope
Calculate Your Potential Penalty
If your NIP is deemed valid, use our tool below to see if you will be offered a Speed Awareness Course or a Court Summons.
Offence Details
Legal Triage
Citation Receipt
Awaiting Offence Details
Required Actions:
- Enter Recorded Speed
- Complete Legal Triage
The calculations provided are based on the Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines and NPCC guidelines for England and Wales.