Little-known legal loophole that means drivers can reject a speeding ticket
DRIVERS have a loophole for challenging speeding tickets, even if they were caught committing the serious offence.
Accused motorists must be notified within two weeks of the incident, according to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
If drivers are told to pay up more than a fortnight after their offence, they can reject paying the penalty fine.
You must reply to the speeding ticket with a not guilty plea and successfully argue your case in court.
But it's harder than it sounds - all the police need to do is show the ticket should have reached the vehicle’s registered owner under normal circumstances within 14 days.
David Beckham was able to take advantage of the little-known legal caveat in 2018 after being caught driving his £160,000 Bentley Bentayga at 59mph in a 40mph zone.
His lawyer Nick Freeman, known as "Mr Loophole", successfully argued the papers arrived one day too late.
That's because the recorded delivery notice landed on Bentley's desk on February 7, with the incident taking place on January 23.
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If you are a first-time offender, you could also avoid a speeding fine if you are offered a speed awareness course.
The amount you’re fined depends on what the speed limit was and how much over it you were driving.
It’s usually a percentage of your weekly income, up to a maximum of £1,000 (£2,500 if you were driving on a motorway).
Repeat offenders receive a minimum fine of £100 and three penalty points.
Car owners who fail to report driver details to police after their vehicle is caught breaking the law on camera face a £1,000 fine and six penalty points - even if they weren't in the car at the time.
Driving fines have been raised to tens of thousands of pounds in recent years.
Ant McPartlin was charged a record £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months in April 2018 after being caught drunk driving.
The number of points you're likely to be slapped with of the offence.
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