Fixed Penalty Notices

Fixed Penalty Notices

What is a Fixed Penalty Notice?
If you have committed a minor traffic offence, like cycling on the pavement, the police have the power to issue you with a one-off fine called a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).

A FPN offers you the opportunity to discharge any liability to conviction by payment of a fixed sum of money. In other words, if you pay the fine you will not be prosecuted. As there is no prosecution or conviction, you will not get a criminal record.

If you are issued with a FPN it should clarify which offence you are accused of having committed and in what manner.

Amount of the FPN
The fixed penalty for minor cycling related traffic offences will normally not exceed £30.

Failure to Pay
A failure to pay a FPN may lead to a higher fine or prosecution for the underlying offence.

Contesting the FPN
If you feel that a penalty notice is unjust you can choose not to pay the fine and contest your case in Court. If you go down this route, you must request a hearing within the time frame given on the FPN. Generally you will have 28 days to give notification that you are contesting the penalty.

Payment of the FPN
The Police do not have the power to make you pay the fine on the spot but you must pay it within the time frame given on the FPN. Generally, recipients have 28 days to settle the penalty.

The FPN should also give you details of the person to whom payment may be made.