NIP for driving in hard shoulder after being directed to use it by traffic officers

[SOCTA]

Recently received the above NIP and 100s of drivers that day must have received it too. Since NIP doesn't allow the driver to provide their account of what happened, how can I communicate that with the police without having to go through courts?

[HandyAndy]

Before you worry about providing your version of events you must respond to the accompanying “request for driver’s details” by naming yourself as the driver. You could try including a letter explaining what had happened with your response. Staple he letter to your response, take copies of what you have sent and get a free certificate of posting from the Post Office. (That's stock advice for anything you send in the post for matters like this).

If the police ignore that, your next opportunity will be if and when they offer you either a course or a fixed penalty.

If they turn down your representations then, the only option open to you will be to decline any offer you are made and allow the police o to prosecute you in court.

In the meantime, it might be a good idea o see if the police or National Highways can help you by providing details of he event.

[SOCTA]

Before you worry about providing your version of events you must respond to the accompanying “request for driver’s details” by naming yourself as the driver. You could try including a letter explaining what had happened with your response. Staple he letter to your response, take copies of what you have sent and get a free certificate of posting from the Post Office. (That's stock advice for anything you send in the post for matters like this).

If the police ignore that, your next opportunity will be if and when they offer you either a course or a fixed penalty.

If they turn down your representations then, the only option open to you will be to decline any offer you are made and allow the police o to prosecute you in court.

In the meantime, it might be a good idea o see if the police or National Highways can help you by providing details of he event.

Thank you, much appreciated. Yes, I was certainly planning on filling in the form naming myself as the driver and I will take your advise on attaching a note to it explaining the events that lead to us using the hard shoulder.