Scottish Safety Camera Programme – Frequently Asked Questions
Detected Speeding?
Q: How will I know if I have been detected speeding?
A: If a vehicle is detected exceeding the speed limit, a Notice of Intended
Prosecution (NIP) will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle within 14 days
of the alleged offence taking place.
If the registered keeper was not the driver at the time of the offence, under Section
172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the registered keeper is required to state who the
driver of the vehicle was. Failure to comply with this requirement is a separate
offence.
Q: I have completed and returned the NIP, what happens next?
A: A Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty will usually be sent out, unless the speed
recorded was excessive. In that case, the Procurator Fiscal will be notified and you
will receive a summons to attend court in the area where the offence is alleged to
have occurred.
If you are sent a Conditional Offer, this will allow the opportunity to accept a £100
fine and 3 penalty points on the driving licence. If this is taken up, the paperwork
should be completed per the instructions. If this offer is not taken up then you have
the opportunity to attend court instead.
Q: Can I choose to pay a bigger fine and avoid points on my licence, or attend
a driver awareness course?
A: No. The Conditional Offer is a prescribed alternative to prosecution. The level of
financial penalty and points are fixed by legislation. The choice is to accept or reject
the Conditional Offer in its entirety. Driver Awareness courses are not currently
available in Scotland.
How many points can I have on my licence before it is revoked and I am
disqualified from driving?
A total of 12 penalty points on your licence within three years mean that you will
have to appear in court and you will be disqualified from driving for a minimum of six
months.
If you are a new driver and you accumulate six penalty points or more within two
years of passing your test, your driving licence will be revoked and you will have to
re-take both the theory and practical test.
How long will the penalty points stay on my licence?
Penalty points are valid for a period of three years but cannot be removed from your
licence until after four years.
Camera Equipment
How do I know the camera is accurate?
All speed camera and red-light camera systems used in Scotland are Home Office
type-approved for court purposes. Before any such equipment is approved, it is
subjected to rigorous field and laboratory testing to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Very specific guidance and training is given to officers using such devices which are
calibrated and tested regularly to ensure their accuracy.
Can I see the photographic evidence?
You can request photographic evidence. This may involve you visiting the office
where the detection is being processed.
Speed Limits
What are the speed limits in Scotland?
The general speed limits are set out in Section 123-125 of the Highway Code
https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/control-of-the-vehicle-
117-to-126. These are the general limits applicable but limits may change or be
altered temporarily. These are maximum limits, and circumstances may dictate that
the speed at which it is safe to drive your vehicle is lower than these limits. The
Highway Code gives advice on the need to reduce your speed depending upon
circumstances.
How do I know what the national speed limit is for my vehicle, as it is different
for cars, vans, towing, other vehicles etc.
Different vehicle classifications have different speed limits. If you are unsure of your
vehicle classification you should check your V5 registration document.
The Scottish Safety Camera Programme cannot provide general advice on the
speed limit for individual vehicles. It is the driver’s responsibility to know the speed
limit for the vehicle being driven on the classification of road and to drive safely
within the road conditions. More detailed speed limit guidance can be found at
Schedule 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/27/schedule/6.
