Taxi drivers still falling foul of paperwork trap after conditional offers, says taxi General Secretary
- Perry Richardson
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) has raised concerns over the number of drivers penalised through Single Justice Procedure Notices (SJPN) after initially accepting conditional offers for minor speeding offences.
According to Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the LTDA, dozens of taxi drivers each week are being issued SJPNs after failing to complete all the steps required when accepting a £100 fine and three penalty points—often for travelling at 25mph in a 20mph zone.
McNamara said the issue usually stems from confusion around the paperwork. While many drivers pay the fine online, they miss the additional step of sending off their signed documents and driving licence information to a PO Box in Southend.
Despite having drivers’ contact information, authorities do not follow up to flag the incomplete process. Instead, the payment is refunded and an SJPN is sent out. The SJPN can span nearly 25 pages, increasing the risk of further mistakes when responding.
The consequences vary. Depending on the court and how the paperwork is handled, drivers can face fines ranging from £100 to over £500.
McNamara urged members receiving either a Conditional Offer (CO) or an SJPN to contact the LTDA for support. He said the association can assist with completing paperwork correctly and advise on whether to accept the offer or challenge it.
McNamara said in TAXI Newspaper: “I know this is getting a are still seeing dozens of members every week who have received a Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN) after they had received and paid a conditional offer, invariably for doing 25 in a 20mph zone.
“The member gets the offer of £100 and three points, increasingly after being ‘caught’ by police officers. I use that term only because this is their official title. The member pays the £100, invariably online and then, because the forms are so confusing, fails to post the signed documentation with his or her driving licence details to a PO Box in Southend.
“They do not contact you, even though they now have your address, email and phone number, and point out your error. Instead, they refund the £100 and issue you with an SJPN. Apart from the fact that an SJPN is nearly 25 pages long, offering yet more chance to make a mistake or tick the wrong box, even if you do get it right, depending on what you put, which court it gets sent to and the mood of the magistrate dealing with it that day, you can be fined anything from £100 to over £500!
“If you receive a Notice of a Conditional Offer (CO), and especially if you get an SJPN, please call or email us here at the LTDA. We can help you with the paperwork and offer general advice. It can make an enormous difference with the level of fine you receive or even if you should accept it at all or plead Not Guilty!”
