AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE
Avon and Somerset Police speeding ticket and Section 172 process
Received a speeding ticket in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Somerset or South Gloucestershire? Check the 16 digit reference before choosing the online or postal response route.
Checked against primary legal sources for England and Wales · Updated 21 August 2026 · How we review content
For offences covered by section 1 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, the first required warning or NIP must ordinarily reach the registered keeper within 14 days. Statutory exceptions can apply.
Check the first notice and driver response dates
Separate the first warning question from the duty to identify the driver. The checker does not require a name, registration or notice number.
The first required warning or NIP is ordinarily subject to the statutory timing rule, with exceptions.
Avon and Somerset Police requires the addressee to provide the driver information within the period stated on the ticket.
Use the process printed on the current speeding ticket
- Keep the NIP, Reply to Notice Form and envelope together.
- Check whether the 16 digit reference begins 0523 and locate the PIN.
- Record the issue, receipt and response dates and confirm the registered keeper.
- Respond accurately within the stated period and retain proof.
What does Avon and Somerset Police send after a camera allegation?
Avon and Somerset Police describes the NIP and Reply to Notice Form together as a speeding ticket. The NIP sets out the alleged offence. The Reply to Notice Form asks the addressee to identify the driver.
The force says the registered keeper is identified through DVLA records and the first ticket is sent within 14 days. A later ticket can be sent after another keeper or organisation nominates a possible driver.
How do I respond online?
Where the 16 digit reference begins 0523, the addressee can use the official Public Access System at https://www.avonandsomersetpas.co.uk/. The reference and PIN are printed on the ticket. The portal can be used to respond, view a photograph and request a hard copy.
If the ticket is not eligible for PAS, complete all required parts of the Reply to Notice Form, sign and date it, and send it to Speed Enforcement Unit, PO Box 213, Bristol, BS20 1DR. Use the return address printed on the current ticket if it differs. Keep proof of the completed response.
What if I am unsure who was driving?
The force recommends checking the PAS photographs, contacting possible drivers and reviewing diaries, phone records, bank statements and company records. A photograph may show the vehicle without showing the driver's face.
If the driver remains uncertain, the official guidance says to complete the relevant box and include a letter explaining the enquiries made. That does not guarantee that the explanation will be accepted. Preserve a dated record of every reasonable step.
What outcomes can follow?
Depending on the circumstances, the force may offer a speed awareness course, issue a fixed penalty, send a Single Justice Procedure Notice or proceed by summons. The alleged speed, record, eligibility and response determine the route.
Avon and Somerset Police says an offered course must be attended within 120 days of the alleged offence. If a fixed penalty is accepted, the current official online route is the Home Office Penalty Notice Portal. Use only the instructions on the offer received.
What is distinctive about local camera information?
Avon and Somerset Police publishes a searchable list of fixed, mobile and red light camera sites. Its published variable speed limit sites include the M4 between junctions 19 and 20 in both directions and the M5 between junctions 16 and 17 in both directions.
The force also publishes fixed sites on the A38 at Filton and Patchway and several mobile enforcement sites on the A303 around Ilminster and Wincanton. These are published enforcement locations, not a guarantee that a camera will operate at a particular time. Check the alleged location, limit, direction, date and available evidence on the actual ticket.
What evidence should I preserve?
- The NIP, Reply to Notice Form and envelope
- The 16 digit reference, PIN, issue date, receipt date and deadline
- The V5C keeper details and document reference date
- The PAS photographs and any requested hard copy
- The completed response and submission proof
- Driver enquiries, diaries and relevant company records
Turn your paperwork into a clear next-step checklist.
Preserve the notice, dates and response record
Build a notice chronology, deadline record, document checklist and concise solicitor briefing in NoticeReady Case. It does not determine whether the notice is valid.
QUICK ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
How long do Avon and Somerset Police have to send a NIP?
For offences covered by section 1 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, the first required warning or NIP must ordinarily reach the registered keeper within 14 days. Statutory exceptions can apply.
What is the Avon and Somerset Police speeding ticket portal?
If the 16 digit reference begins 0523, use the official Public Access System at https://www.avonandsomersetpas.co.uk/ with the reference and PIN printed on the ticket.
Where do I send my Avon and Somerset Police driver nomination form?
The current official postal address is Speed Enforcement Unit, PO Box 213, Bristol, BS20 1DR. Use the return address printed on the current Reply to Notice Form if it differs.
Can I view Avon and Somerset Police camera photographs online?
Yes, for eligible 0523 references. The PAS allows the recipient to view a photograph and request a hard copy.
How long do I have to respond?
Avon and Somerset Police says the addressee must respond within 28 days of the issue date. Follow the precise date and instructions on the current ticket.
Does a late NIP mean I can ignore the Reply to Notice Form?
No. A possible timing issue does not remove the separate driver information duty. Respond accurately while preserving the dates and keeper evidence.
What can happen after I identify the driver?
Depending on the circumstances, the route may be a speed awareness course, fixed penalty, Single Justice Procedure Notice or court summons. No particular outcome is guaranteed.