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Originally Posted by me283
OK, here's another interesting point: when one receives the "Notice of Intended Prosecution", one is being accused of a crime (otherwise they wouldn't be prosecuting). Now, I have always believed that one of our basic rights was the right to remain silent (as stated in Police cautions). BUT, the offence of "Fialing To Provide" means that you are NOT allowed to remain silent...? So, is the Road Traffic Act in it's various guises actually contrary to English Law?
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But you wern't being cautioned. You wern't arrested. Small speeding offenses (unless they are big enough to constitute dangerous or reckless driving) are civil offenses. You don't have a criminal record. Your right to silence on the grounds that it might incriminate yourself doesn't apply.
Of course, with free speech you have the right in life no to say anything you don't want to say, but if you exercise that right with a bill (which is essientially what you recieved), then you would still have to go through the collections process etc. The freedom to non-speech doesn't apply to everything.