A Guide to Speeding Fines and Penalties

Most responsible drivers do their best to keep on the right side of the law in their vehicles, particularly when it comes to obeying the speed limits. However, it’s possible to still fall foul of speeding laws, whether it’s by a static or mobile camera, or by a police officer. 

In this article, we’ll be explaining what happens when you’re caught speeding, how much you may be fined, and under what circumstances you can contest a speeding ticket. 

What happens when you’re caught speeding by a speed camera? 

The process for receiving a speeding ticket will depend on the way you’re caught. If you’re caught by a speed camera, whether it’s an obvious static one or a mobile unit operating temporarily at the side of the road, you’ll find out officially via the post within 14 days. 

You’ll receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution, which will outline the offence, along with a section 172 notice, which states the requirement of the vehicle keeper by law to confirm who was driving the car at the time. 

You should fill out and return the relevant part of the section 172 notice, and return it to the police within 28 days to avoid having to go to court. 

What happens when you’re caught speeding by a police officer? 

If you’re stopped by a police officer for speeding, how you’re dealt with will depend on the circumstances. For example, if it’s a minor speeding offence, you may get off with a verbal warning. In the case of something more serious, they could issue you with a Fixed Penalty Notice either on the spot or through the post. 

For very serious offences, the police officer may set the wheels in motion for a court appearance, and a letter will be sent to you outlining what happens next. 

How much are speeding fines? 

If the speeding offence is your first, you may find that you’re invited to attend a speed awareness course in lieu of the 3 points that you can expect otherwise, even if it’s a minor offence. You’ll still be fined either way, even if you attend the course.

Beyond that, it will depend on the speed you were travelling and in what limit as to what the repercussions are for you. Speeding fines are categorised by bands, but these can vary depending on whereabouts you live in the country - as a rough guide, these are as follows: 

Speeding fines in East Anglia

Speeding fines for motorists in the UK can vary by county and the parameters set by a particular police force (constabulary) in that area. As a franchise car dealership with branches across East Anglia, we’ve highlighted the fines you could receive if caught speeding in the counties local to us:

Fines for speeding in Cambridgeshire

• A minimum of a £100 fine
• An additional three points will be added to your driving licence 
• You may be offered a speed awareness course
• In some cases, you may receive a court order

Fines for speeding in Hertfordshire

• A minimum of a £100 fine
• An additional three points will be added to your driving licence 
• You may be offered a speed awareness course
• In some cases, you may receive a court order

Fines for speeding in Lincolnshire

• A minimum of a £100 fine
• An additional three points will be added to your driving licence 
• You may be offered a speed awareness course
• In some cases, you may receive a court order

Drivers in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Lincolnshire may be offered a Speed Awareness Course instead of a fine or points on their driving licence - this all depends on the speed at which the car was travelling. Collectively, the three police constabularies base this decision on the following guidelines:

Fines for speeding drivers in Norfolk

• A minimum of a £100 fixed penalty
• A possible additional three points on your driving licence
• In some cases a summons to appear in court

Fines for speeding drivers in Suffolk

• A minimum of a £100 fixed penalty
• A possible additional three points on your driving licence
• In some cases a summons to appear in court

Drivers in Norfolk and Suffolk may be offered a Speed Awareness Course instead of a fine or points on their driving licence - this all depends on the speed at which the car was travelling and the circumstances in which you are caught. Both police constabularies base their decision on the following guidelines:

Can you appeal or contest a speeding ticket? 

There are only a few circumstances under which you’re able to appeal or contest a speeding ticket that you have received. These include: 

• If the road signs were unclear, obscured or missing completely - you’ll need to provide photographic evidence
• If you’re sure you weren’t speeding and can prove so in court
• If someone else was driving the car and you can tell the police who 
• If the calibration of the camera was incorrect by obtaining a calibration certificate in court. 

Ignorance of the speed limit, an emergency that prompted you to speed, or an empty open road are no excuses for speeding and are not grounds on which you can dispute your ticket. 

What happens if you fail to pay your speeding penalty? 

If you fail to pay your speeding fine, you will be issued with court letters to remind you, which could escalate very quickly. The court will seek to recover the costs by any legal means, which could mean an ‘attachment of earnings’ order (the money gets collected via the wages from your employer) or bailiffs could be dispatched to your home.