I'm seeking some advice regarding the application for my British Citizenship with relation to an outstanding conditional offer of an endorsable Fixed Penalty Notice.
It might be a new situation here and not sure if other members have seen this or gone through a similar experience, will try to explain the best I could.
Short Version
- Received a FPO (Fixed Penalty Conditional Offer) for a endorsable traffic code (305.005 - Not Obeying Red Traffic Light) about a 1 year 9 months ago (May 2020) due to crossing a red filter light by an officer on the spot.
- Unable to pay within the 28 days deadline of the offer, due to not being able to send my licence away for endorsement as my licence was with DVLA and because of COVID lockdown and restrictions the In Person payment option was not available (Offices were closed)
- Contacted the Scottish Courts and they advised, if you get the licence within 28 days of the ticket, then post it with the payment. If you don't get it back, then you will have no choice but to not pay the fine, and it will be forwarded to the procurator fiscal. Advice to show the correspondence as proof to them with Fines Enforcement officer at the Courts that I had been in touch regarding this seeking advice.
- Police officer that initially issued the ticket, called me later and I explained everything to him, he said, there is nothing they can do, as it is with courts and I have to wait for the letter from the courts.
- No correspondence from the courts since I got the tickets. It's been 1 Year and 9 months.
Almost two years ago (March 2020), I got a notice of conditional offer of Fixed Penalty for an endorsable code (305.005 - Not Obeying Red Traffic Light) by the officer at the time on the road. I had unknowingly crossed the road whilst the filter light was still red according to the officer.
At the time the officer said that if I accept this offer, I need to pay within 28 days and send my licence away for endorsement for 3 Penalty points. Payments can only be made through post to the Scottish Courts and Tribunal service, or In person to the Scottish Court fines offices.
So, paying it in person was out of question as the offices were closed due to COVID, for posting I required my licence to be sent away which I did not have with me at the time due to the fact that I passed my Driving test a couple of weeks ago.
I did explain that to the officer, and he said to wait for the licence to come back in 28 days.
The licence did not arrive in 28 days but later.
I had meanwhile checked with the courts on this matter, and they that there is nothing they can do, as I would have no choice but not not pay the fine at which time it will fall off their system and the police will make a report to the Procurator Fiscal.
I have an email conversation with the Fines Enforcement Officer at the Scottish courts and Tribunal service at the time, and they advised to keep a copy of that as proof that you did contact the court at this time and further down the line when the Procurator Fiscal contacts you in respect of this charge you can show them that you contacted the court for advise on what to do as you were unable to provide your license as it was with DVLA.
It's been almost 1 Year and 9 months. And I have had no correspondence from the Procurator Fiscal Officer or the Courts regarding this. I did have a call from the police officer a few months after to check with me that why I hadn't paid it, and I explained it to him.
Request for Advice
I am not sure how to proceed with this. My licence has not been endorsed and it does not carry any points.
I haven't received any correspondence from the courts on this, should I be declaring this on my Citizenship application, if so, then how, should I also include a cover letter, and the email correspondence from the Fines Enforcement Officer explaining why I was unable to pay due to not having my licence on me at the time.
Should I be contacting the Procurator Fiscal or Police on this to seek further advice with relation to declaration of this on the Citizenship application at all?
Any help and advice regarding this would be really appreciated!
Regards,