- Notice of Intended Prosecution
- A statutory warning that prosecution for a specified road-traffic offence is contemplated, subject to the applicable law and exceptions.
- Section 172 requirement
- A requirement under section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for information about the identity of the driver or other information within the recipient's power to give.
- Fixed penalty notice
- A notice offering a statutory route to discharge liability without conviction by paying the fixed penalty and complying with the scheme.
- Conditional offer of fixed penalty
- An offer to resolve an eligible alleged offence on stated conditions rather than proceed to court.
- Court fine
- A financial penalty imposed by a criminal court after conviction. It is not the same as a council PCN or private parking charge.
- Penalty Charge Notice
- A statutory civil penalty issued by an authority under the applicable parking, traffic or charging scheme.
- Private parking charge
- A contractual demand issued by or for a private parking operator. It is not a council penalty merely because it is called a PCN.
- Informal challenge
- An early request to a council or authority before the formal statutory representation stage, where the scheme permits it.
- Formal representation
- A statutory challenge made to the enforcement authority at the prescribed stage and in the prescribed manner.
- Adjudicator
- An independent decision maker appointed under the relevant statutory scheme to decide qualifying appeals.
- Registered keeper
- The person recorded on the vehicle register. The registered keeper is not necessarily the owner or driver.
- Keeper liability
- A statutory or contractual basis on which a keeper may be pursued, subject to the territorial and legal conditions that actually apply.
- Mitigation
- Circumstances advanced for discretionary leniency or cancellation, distinct from a legal ground where the scheme makes that distinction.
- Penalty points
- Endorsements associated with specified road-traffic offences.
- Disqualification
- A court order prohibiting driving for a stated period or until conditions are met.
A practical route for moving the case forward
Identify
Use the exact issuer, country and document title.
Protect time
Check the live deadline and required response method.
Preserve proof
Keep the notice, envelope, photographs, records and correspondence.
Take the correct step
Respond, challenge, appeal or contact Jason at the right stage.
Source control
Official sources used for this guide
These links support the general propositions on this page. The current notice, amendments, local orders and scheme rules must still be checked.
Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, section 1
Great Britain
Notice of intended prosecution requirements for specified offences, subject to section 2 and the facts of service.
Road Traffic Act 1988, section 172
Great Britain
Statutory duty to provide driver identity information and the statutory defences.
Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions Regulations 2022
England only
Current England representations and appeals regulations for civil road traffic contraventions.
Civil Enforcement Regulations (Wales) 2013: representations and appeals
Wales only
Welsh statutory framework for representations and adjudicator appeals.
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4
England and Wales
Conditional statutory recovery of unpaid private parking charges from a keeper or hirer on relevant land.