Speeding motorists in the UK are caught one of two ways: by a police officer or by a speed camera.
If caught by a police officer, the officer will explain to you why you have been stopped (usually informing you of the speed you were measured at and confirming the speed limit on the road at issue) and then they will explain how they are going to respond to the incident.
For minor speeding offences, the officer may give you a verbal warning, but for more serious offences they can either issue a fixed penalty notice (an ‘on-the-spot’ fine or one sent to your address) or they will order you to go to court (with the letter explaining the process sent to your address).
If you receive a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), you can either pay the fine and accept the penalty points, or contest the fine in court. To uphold the fine, a court only needs to prove you were speeding. Saying that you did not intend to speed, didn’t realise you were speeding or you only exceeded the limit briefly won’t hold water. If you’re prosecuted for speeding, if you have eight or more points on your licence, or you were driving way above the speed limit, the police may choose to prosecute you in court. In this eventuality, you will be sent a court summons. The police has up to six months to issue it.