Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to wonder whether I should report an accidental offence?

197 replies

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 15:57

So I recently found out that I unknowingly and unwittingly broke the law last year.

No victim involved and I honestly and truly didn't know I'd done it.

Would you report yourself or just accept you got away with it?

A criminal conviction would destroy my career. But I also feel terrible that I've done something illegal.

WWYD?

OP posts:
Glowingup · 08/07/2026 18:12

thejelliclecats · 08/07/2026 18:09

If there's a fine outstanding someone will be in touch, surely?

Show quote history

Yes. Thats how I found out. It’s around £850 for failing to provide driver information. Expect to be contacted by a debt collection agency, as I was.

Glowingup · 08/07/2026 18:11

BoredZelda · 08/07/2026 18:02

I’m confused why the 3 points for speeding were also added. They can’t give you those points because the person who was driving wasn’t disclosed. That’s why there is a 6 point tariff for not providing information, to stop people trying to avoid getting points by failing to provide information. Even in the event they did add the 3, they are part of the same offence so wouldn’t count under totting up.

Are you sure you didn’t have other points already there, or are you a new driver?

Show quote history

True. You wouldn’t get 3 additional points on top of the original 6.

thejelliclecats · 08/07/2026 18:09

BoredZelda · 08/07/2026 18:03

Even if there is a fine outstanding somewhere?

Show quote history

If there's a fine outstanding someone will be in touch, surely?

BoredZelda · 08/07/2026 18:03

thejelliclecats · 08/07/2026 17:55

I totally get it but I really wouldn't worry about it now. You've been honest with your current insurers and that's all that matters :)

Show quote history

Even if there is a fine outstanding somewhere?

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 08/07/2026 18:03

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 16:51

The ban, I'm not sure when the speeding was as it's now dropped off my license along with the failure to disclose. I guess the ban cancelled the points?

How about stop guessing and find out if what your licence states now is what it's meant to.

Have you actually been diagnosed with ADHD as mentioned in your earlier post

BoredZelda · 08/07/2026 18:02

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:27

The 6 points were after I'd moved. They were for not providing driver information for tbe speeding fine- also issued after I moved.

Show quote history

I’m confused why the 3 points for speeding were also added. They can’t give you those points because the person who was driving wasn’t disclosed. That’s why there is a 6 point tariff for not providing information, to stop people trying to avoid getting points by failing to provide information. Even in the event they did add the 3, they are part of the same offence so wouldn’t count under totting up.

Are you sure you didn’t have other points already there, or are you a new driver?

anothernewname6789998212 · 08/07/2026 17:58

RoseOliviaAu · 08/07/2026 17:52

Oh I see, they banned me instantly 😂 must have wanted me off the road

Show quote history

I think they can do this in some cases depending on the nature of the offence, but in cases like OP’s where it’s a “totting up” ban it’s mostly common for the person to be allowed to continue up until sentencing. Kind of similar to a regular criminal offence where someone is held on remand vs out on bail until a trial

Glowingup · 08/07/2026 17:55

RoseOliviaAu · 08/07/2026 17:52

Oh I see, they banned me instantly 😂 must have wanted me off the road

Show quote history

😂 maybe it depends from judge to judge.

OP just draw a line under it. I felt so crap when it happened to me (I found out about the points when a debt collector contacted me) and I didn’t want to drive again. However then I dealt with it, got the convictions cancelled (which you might be able to still do depending on when you found out about it) and got on with things. You didn’t do it on purpose and it happens and you didn’t drive drunk or kill someone.

thejelliclecats · 08/07/2026 17:55

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:50

Yes, I am. I was also lucky not to have had an accident or to have been pulled over for a random check. Hence the reason I feel so guilty.

Show quote history

I totally get it but I really wouldn't worry about it now. You've been honest with your current insurers and that's all that matters :)

RoseOliviaAu · 08/07/2026 17:52

Glowingup · 08/07/2026 17:47

No, speaking from experience this is not true. You get the conviction and the ban comes later. I managed to get the original conviction overturned so never did get banned but I got the convictions for failure to supply driver information (also due to moving house) then got a letter saying they were proposing to ban me a couple of months later.

Show quote history

Oh I see, they banned me instantly 😂 must have wanted me off the road

EmeraldShamrock000 · 08/07/2026 17:52

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 16:11

I don't mind saying what it is, since this is anonymous. I just wanted a general feel.

I had a "totting up" driving ban. Through my ADHD lead poor organisation, I didn't know at the time and I drove throughout. I only found out when I came to renew my driving license which had expired- the form came back as I'd filled it in for an expired license not to have my licence reinstated.

Say nothing.

Original poster
AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:50

thejelliclecats · 08/07/2026 17:47

You're very lucky you didn't have your insurance cancelled or voided then.

Show quote history

Yes, I am. I was also lucky not to have had an accident or to have been pulled over for a random check. Hence the reason I feel so guilty.

OP posts:
Original poster
AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:49

RoseOliviaAu · 08/07/2026 17:44

If you were convicted May 2025 usually the ban is instant… not starting a month later. That’s unusual.

Show quote history

Just looked. Conviction was in May. Sentencing was in June when the ban started.

OP posts:
thejelliclecats · 08/07/2026 17:47

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:46

I didn't when I didn't know.

I now have a new car and am insured with a different company (because they were cheaper and offered a better deal, not because I'm trying to hide anything. New company is aware of the ban.

Show quote history

You're very lucky you didn't have your insurance cancelled or voided then.

Glowingup · 08/07/2026 17:47

RoseOliviaAu · 08/07/2026 17:44

If you were convicted May 2025 usually the ban is instant… not starting a month later. That’s unusual.

Show quote history

No, speaking from experience this is not true. You get the conviction and the ban comes later. I managed to get the original conviction overturned so never did get banned but I got the convictions for failure to supply driver information (also due to moving house) then got a letter saying they were proposing to ban me a couple of months later.

Original poster
AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:46

thejelliclecats · 08/07/2026 17:43

None of this makes any sense.

Surely you've had to tell your insurance about your points and ban?

I didn't when I didn't know.

I now have a new car and am insured with a different company (because they were cheaper and offered a better deal, not because I'm trying to hide anything. New company is aware of the ban.

OP posts:
Glowingup · 08/07/2026 17:45

I’ve had something very similar happen to me. I also have ADHD. Don’t worry about it now and if you didn’t know about it you would have grounds to reopen the original prosecution in any event. But just move on with your life and put it behind you.

Original poster
AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:45

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 08/07/2026 17:42

This thread is teaching me lots of things I didn't know. Thank you.

Edited
Show quote history

Very apt username!!

OP posts:
RoseOliviaAu · 08/07/2026 17:44

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:29

Of course it's true! Why on earth would I make up something so mundane!?

The ban was June 25 to December 25. The conviction was in May 25. I found out about in in April this year when I went to renew my expired licence. I moved in November 24 and hadn't updated my details witnthe DVLA or my car V5.

Show quote history

If you were convicted May 2025 usually the ban is instant… not starting a month later. That’s unusual.

anothernewname6789998212 · 08/07/2026 17:43

Felinesonmeshirt · 08/07/2026 17:05

It will be returned Gone Away. The police cannot enforce a NIP past 6 months.

Show quote history

This isn’t true. NIP’s are only invalid if the person had their correct address registered and the police failed to issue it within 14 days. Having the wrong address on your v5 doesn’t mean they can’t action it, otherwise literally everyone would just register their car somewhere else.

Not responding to a NIP in itself is an offence that triggers a court date. If you fail to appear at court (which op did as the letter will have gone to the old address) then they will continue in your absence. The 3 points you would’ve got if you’d responded for just the speeding offence quickly becomes 9 when you don’t respond to the NIP, which then quickly becomes a ban if you’ve already got more than 3 points.

This is why it’s so important to update the address on your v5 when you move, as if you don’t then all of this can happen without you knowing and you only first become aware of it when an insurance company does a random check and calls wanting to know why they weren’t informed, or the police pull you over and you’re subject to further punishment.

You can also see what penalties you’ve got on a licence by checking here which I’m guessing is what op did: https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

View or share your driving licence information

Find out what information DVLA holds about your driving licence or create a check code to share your driving record, for example to hire a car

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

thejelliclecats · 08/07/2026 17:43

None of this makes any sense.

Surely you've had to tell your insurance about your points and ban?

TheFrendo · 08/07/2026 17:43

Do nothing.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 08/07/2026 17:42

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:32

Yep. And you have to pay cash!!!

Show quote history

This thread is teaching me lots of things I didn't know. Thank you.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 08/07/2026 17:41

RoseOliviaAu · 08/07/2026 17:40

You only send your licence in if your ban is over 6 months.

Show quote history

Ah! Thanks.

RoseOliviaAu · 08/07/2026 17:40

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 08/07/2026 17:22

The OP said "I only found out when I came to renew my driving license which had expired- the form came back as I'd filled it in for an expired license not to have my licence reinstated." which strongly suggests that there was indeed a ban. Only I thought you had to send in your licence if you were banned, and they sent you a new one after the ban was finished; I can see how confusion could arise if that isn't so.

The reason for the 6 points that took the number over into ban territory was that the ticket went to the old address, and wasn't paid because OP didn't see it – nor, presumably, any other correspondence from the police or other legal agencies after that. But I am surprised the DVLA didn't leap on her when she applied from a different address to renew her licence. On the other hand, they probably aren't that efficient really.

Show quote history

You only send your licence in if your ban is over 6 months.