Notice Of Intended Prosecution (NIP)
If you are served with a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) for a motoring offence, Cartwright King’s dedicated NIP Solicitors will advise you on how to respond and your rights. Our specialist Motoring Law Team helps hundreds of motorists avoid prosecution each year for alleged motoring offences.
You can trust our experience to help defend you against prosecution, ensuring that you keep your licence, avoid heavy fines or imprisonment.
For practical, pro-active advice, get in touch with our professional Motoring Law Team today.
How Cartwright King Can Defend You
Notice of Intended Prosecutions and the law
A Notice of Intended Prosecution [NIP] will be issued if you have committed a motoring offence and were not given a verbal warning at the scene. According to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 the NIP is a written warning that you could face prosecution and requires you to fill in certain details within 28 days, mainly who was driving the vehicle at the relevant time.
The notice must be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle within 14 days of the offence or the date the police learned of the offence. If it is sent later then any prosecution may be invalid. These cases are often made complex when vehicles are hired or leased and because of the serious consequences of failure to comply with the notice, we always advise taking very early legal advice if there is any doubt at all.
If you do not provide the information that the Notice of Intended Prosecution requires within 28 days, then you could face 6 penalty points in addition to any points attaching to the original offence.
Benefit From a Free, Initial Telephone Conversation
If you have been served with a NIP, time is of the essence to respond. Building the best defence starts with seeking legal advice immediately, so it’s worth taking advantage of a free, initial discussion with our Motoring Law Team. You can use this time to explain your situation and find out how we can help you with a practical plan of action.
For immediate assistance, contact us today for your free* initial discussion.
The discussion is completely informal and confidential, and is an opportunity for us to:
- Get to know you
- Understand your situation
- Agree how you want to proceed
*Please be aware that this is a ‘get to know you’ call and no advice will be given.
Why Choose Cartwright King to Tackle a Notice of Intended Prosecution?
Challenging a Notice of Intended Prosecution requires more than just a lawyer, you need a dedicated Motoring Offence Lawyer. Cartwright King’s dedicated Motoring Law Team focuses on nothing but driving offences, meaning that you benefit from specialist legal advice and representation that is specific to your case.
We listen, we understand and we genuinely care about helping you avoid prosecution. That’s why we’re committed to standing up for your rights, ensuring that you get the best defence possible and that your side of the story is heard and taken seriously.
Cartwright King can quickly establish the best strategy for your defence, giving you peace of mind that your case is in good hands and that you’re well supported.
Working with a specialist Cartwright King solicitor gives you the assurance of having access to legal counsel who will advise you at every stage of your case.
Our NIP Solicitors are dedicated to defending your legal rights and ensuring that you’re treated fairly throughout your case. When you need us most, our Motoring Law Team rises to the challenge.
We’re a trusted, resourceful Legal 500 top tier law firm with specialist solicitors that are calm under pressure, giving you defence counsel that you can count on.
We're here for you.
Frequently asked questions.
How long do I have to respond to a Notice of Intended Prosecution?
If you have been served with a NIP, you have 28 days to respond. You must give specific details, including the name of the person driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged offence.
Should you fail to provide the required information within the time allocated, you could face six penalty points in addition to any points attached to the original offence.
How long do the police have to issue a NIP?
The police must issue a NIP to the registered owner of a vehicle within 14 days of the alleged offence or when the police learned of the offence. If a NIP is issued after this time, any attempt to prosecute you may be invalid.
What if I did not receive a NIP?
If you have not received a Notice of Intended Prosecution, and there is no intervening owner and the vehicle is registered to the correct address, then any prosecution of you might fail.
It is always good advice to keep copies of any letters or replies you send so that you can give clear evidence about the history should the need arise.
Will my case go to court?
For minor motoring offences, the prosecution will try to keep matters out of the Court by issuing a fixed penalty notice or recommend a driver awareness course relevant to the offence committed – that’s if you don’t dispute that you committed the offence and agree to the punishment.
If you dispute the charges brought against you as a result of a NIP, you can defend against the allegation by requesting a Court hearing. You will then receive paperwork asking you to enter a plea. You should get in touch with Cartwright King immediately if you wish to take the matter to Court.
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