# The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Rule 30.6: Claim to avoid fine after penalty notice

Extent: E+W

(1) This rule applies where—
(a) a chief officer of police serves on the magistrates’ court officer a certificate registering, for enforcement as a fine, a sum payable by a defendant after failure to comply with a penalty notice; and
(b) the court or a fines officer enforces the fine.
(2) A defendant who claims not to be the person to whom the penalty notice was issued must, unless the court otherwise directs—
(a) make that claim in writing; and
(b) serve it on the court officer.
(3) The court officer must—
(a) notify the chief officer of police by whom the certificate was registered; and
(b) refer the case to the court.
(4) Where such a claim is made—
(a) the general rule is that the court must adjourn the enforcement for 28 days and fix a hearing; but
(b) the court may make a different order.
(5) At any such hearing, the chief officer of police must introduce any evidence to contradict the defendant’s claim.
[Note. See section 10 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
For the circumstances in which a sum may be registered for enforcement as a fine after failure to comply with a penalty notice, see sections 8 and 9 of the 2001 Act.]

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/rule/30.6 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-30.6
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.