Legal Motoring FAQs

The 14-day rule in UK motoring law requires that a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) must be served to the registered keeper of a vehicle within 14 days of an alleged offence, such as speeding. If this deadline is missed, the prosecution may be invalid.

Under Section 1 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, the 14-day rule ensures that motorists are promptly informed if they are to be prosecuted for certain offences. This rule applies primarily to offences detected without a police stop; for example, by speed cameras or ANPR systems. The NIP must be served (not just posted) to the registered keeper within 14 days of the incident. If the vehicle was a company car or leased, the notice must reach the registered keeper (e.g. the leasing company) within 14 days, and they may then nominate the actual driver. There are exceptions: if the driver was stopped and verbally warned at the time, or if the delay was due to the DVLA not having up-to-date keeper details, the rule may not apply.

Failure to comply with the 14-day rule can be grounds for challenging a penalty, but it’s important to verify the date of the offence, the date the NIP was received, and who the registered keeper was at the time. If you believe the notice was late, you can request evidence of when it was issued and served. However, this rule doesn’t apply to all motoring offences — it’s specific to those requiring a NIP, such as speeding, careless driving, or running a red light.