How long to process a fixed penalty submission? Options

[driver123123]

Hampshire Police allege I was speeding. I cannot say if I was or wasn't doing the alleged speed but it is possible.

I responded to the NIP declaring myself as driver.

Hampshire Police then issued a fixed penalty notice, dated 2/2/23. I chose to accept the fixed penalty to stop the matter escalating further.

I responded on 20/2/23 - within the allowed 28 days. I completed the form with my driving license details (it explicitly said NOT to send my physical license) and I enclosed a cheque for £100 payable to HMCTS (cheque being an allowed method of paynent).

I sent my response via recorded delivery to the address given - The Conditional Offer Unit, a PO Box based at Southend On Sea. This was delivered and signed for the following day 21/2/23.

As far as I'm concerned, I have complied fully with the terms of the fixed penalty - so the matter is resolved.

Now one week later, the cheque has not been debited from my bank account and my online driving record has not had the penalty points applied.

How long should it take for my submission to be processed? I assume that the Conditional Offer Unit are busy and have a lot of work to process, and they will get round to mine eventually. I know they have it, due to sending it recorded delivery.

Given that the deadline for responding to the fixed penalty is only a day or two away, is it worth me contacting Hampshire Police to tell them I have fully complied with the fixed penalty?

I don't know if this is relevant... The police spelt my name wrong on the NIP and FPN. I gave them the correct spelling of my name when I responded to the NIP, but they got it wrong again on the FPN. Whilst I certainly won't be attempting to use the misspelling to get out of the matter on a technicality, would the misspelling cause any issues when the Condtional Offer Unit process my submission?

Thank you in advance for any advice!

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[roythebus]

If they keep mis-spelling your name there's a chance it won't go on your licence as they will be spelling your name wrong. But it may well take weeks for them to process your cheque and send your incorrect details. I'd suggest let sleeping dogs lie and let the process take its course. You've done what you can. If it's any help, I sent my licence for renewal in late November, still waiting for it to come back!

[driver123123]

Thank you roythebus! If it can take weeks for them to process my submission, then fair enough!

As mentioned, I've complied with the FPN in full so there should be no scope for this matter to be escalated further.

[The Rookie]

I've complied with the FPN in full

I doubt (know) you had an FPN.

What you almost certainly had was a conditional offer of a Fixed Penalty.

Are you sure you didn't have to send in your licence, it may well (will usually) say that on the original NIP, not the CoFP.

https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorseme...for-endorsement

[driver123123]

Thank you The Rookie. Yes of course it was a COFP, and it's been complied with in full.

Please see

https://ibb.co/TRX7mw3

for a picture of the instructions I was given about not sending in my physical license, and instead giving the license details on the form.

[The Rookie]

Obviously I can't tell if that's the CoFP or NIP!

[driver123123]

It's from the COFP. It's the actual form that I was instructed to complete and return.

[Irksome]

Most unusual that they tell you not to send your licence in ... have we seen this before?

[driver123123]

Thank you irksome! As mentioned, I've already complied with everything instructed on the NIP and COFP. I'm not looking to challenge any of those.

roythebus has kindly confirmed that it can take weeks for them to process my submission, so no concerns that they haven't processed it after a week.

I just hope that when they do process it, they don't encounter any issues when they see that the name on my license is spelt differently to the name on the NIP and COFP!

[Jlc]

If you're the RK, is your name correct there?

[The Rookie]

Back to your original question, anywhere from 3-6 weeks can be considered 'normal'.

[driver123123]

I'm not the RK.

Thank you The Rookie for confirming typical timescales.

[andy_foster]

ISTR that recently the law was changed so that you no longer had to send your licence off not to be physically endorsed.
Or was that just Jockistan?

[Logician]

ISTR that recently the law was changed so that you no longer had to send your licence off not to be physically endorsed.
Or was that just Jockistan?

Yes, RTOA 1988 which used to read:

77A Endorsement of driving records where penalty paid
(1)Where—
(a)in pursuance of a conditional offer issued under subsection (1), (2) or (3) of section 75 of this Act a person F2... (referred to in this section as the “alleged offender”) makes payment of the fixed penalty to the fixed penalty clerk [F3and (if he is the holder of a licence) delivers his licence to the fixed penalty clerk], and

now reads:

77A Endorsement of driving records where penalty paid
(1)Where—
[F2(a)a conditional offer has been issued to a person (“the alleged offender”) under section 75(1), (2) or (3),]

references to delivering his licence were removed by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 94(4)(a), 208(1); S.I. 2022/1187, reg. 4(a) (with Pt. 3)
and consequential amendments were also made.

[Jax123456]

Most unusual that they tell you not to send your licence in ... have we seen this before?

I received the same form recently, even though the police website for my area still states you need to send your licence to the Conditional Offer Unit, this is apparently now untrue.

I find it strange that you are able to identify the driver online but are required to use the postal system to notify them you want to accept the points. It just adds extra levels of hassle and increases the chances of things being lost in the post or delayed.

If the OP is still around I would be interested to know if you have heard back from them yet, as I'm in the same boat. I think I will phone them next week.

I have already paid the fine online and the money has been debited from my account. Checking my licence details online still shows 0 points though.

[driver123123]

They processed mine around the 11th March, so nearly a month after I submitted my payment and license details.

[Jax123456]

I see, that's good to know (although unfortunate it took that long).

[mooney11]

Most unusual that they tell you not to send your licence in ... have we seen this before?

I was specifically told over the phone in mid-January *not* to send the physical licence in and that that had been a fairly recent change, only that I had to fill in the form with my details and post the details off.