Failing to stop when required by a constable

s.163Road Traffic Act 1988

Failing to stop a mechanically propelled vehicle or cycle on a road when required to do so by a constable in uniform or a traffic officer.

Failing to stop when required by a constable · Road Traffic Act 1988, s.163Card 80 / 85

Points to prove

Mechanically propelled vehicle – not defined in the Act. It is wider than “motor vehicle” (s.185(1)) because it need not be intended or adapted for use on roads.
Cycle – s.192(1): a bicycle, tricycle, or cycle with four or more wheels, not being a motor vehicle.
Road – s.192(1): any highway and any other road to which the public has access, including bridges a road passes over.
Constable in uniform – the requirement must come from a constable in uniform. A plain-clothes officer cannot make it under s.163.
Traffic officer – a traffic officer designated under the Traffic Management Act 2004. These words were added to s.163 for England in 2004 and for Wales in 2009.

The offence is on a road only, not a “road or other public place”.
s.163 itself does not require the constable to suspect any offence. The offence is simply failing to stop when required.
Drivers (s.163(1)) and cyclists (s.163(2)) are covered by separate subsections, with different maximum fines (RTOA 1988 Sch 2).
The way someone drives to avoid stopping may amount to a separate offence, such as dangerous driving (s.2).

Legislation: Road Traffic Act 1988, s.163 (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Mode of trial: Summary only
Maximum penalty: Unlimited fine (level 5) for the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle; fine of up to £1,000 (level 3) for a cyclist. No endorsement or disqualification