Are £10,000 speeding fines fair?

Ministers program to give magistrates the energy to impose enormous economic penalties on drivers found guilty of widespread offences. Do these proposals go also far?

The government is thinking about rising the fines that can be set in the magistrates’; court. 

This could mean that potential penalties for offences such as speeding on the motorway are increased to £10,000.

Some fines to rise 4fold

The proposed increase would be the very first because 1991 – but some penalties will boost 4fold.

The fines have previously been set at diverse levels, reflecting their severity. The outlined adjustments are as follows:

• Level 1: includes unauthorised cycle racing on public methods. Up from £200 to £800.


• Level 2: involves driving a motorcycle with out a protective helmet. Up from £500 to £2,000.


• Level 3: involves being drunk and disorderly in a public place. Up from £1,000 to £4,000.


• Level 4: contains speeding on the motorway. Up from £2,500 to £10,000.

The Ministry of Justice reports that magistrate fines collected at the finish of 2012-13 reached a record higher of £284 million and continued to rise in the course of the last monetary year.

Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said that monetary penalties “set at the correct level” would be an effective punishment for offenders.

‘Why such steep rises?’;

Nonetheless Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, inquiries why the proposed increases need to be so steep.

“Men and women who break the law ought to bear the consequences.

“But this appears such a wholesale adjust to the method that you have to ask what was going so badly wrong before?” Glaister stated.

“Ironically, we know that speeding offences have declined over recent years.

“Just last week the Division for Transport confirmed that even right after taking congestion out of the equation, recorded targeted traffic speeds have been dropping for a decade.”

Edmund King, president of the AA, also criticised the changes.

Are far more police the answer?

“For the vast majority of drivers, the prospect of the existing £2,500 fine is a pretty excellent deterrent against excessive speeding on the motorway.

“We would not condone speeding in any way but fines have to be proportionate to the offence.”

King added: “If we had far more cops in vehicles on the motorway, that would be a more successful deterrent.”

A lot of motoring offences are dealt with by a fixed-penalty notice which is an on-the-spot fine. 

Other folks are heard in the magistrates’; courts, either since of the severity of the offence, for example, drink driving, or since a fixed penalty supply was rejected by the motorist and they want to appeal it.

Fines set according to earnings

But does it mean that if identified guilty of speeding on the motorway, a motorist will uncover themselves facing a £10,000 fine that could leave them in debt and take years to spend off?

This is unlikely to take place, as in magistrate’;s courts, the fines are set in line with the offenders’; revenue, and are associated to their ability to spend. 

“These proposals will only effect those who earn high incomes,” stated Jeanette Miller, managing director of motoring law firm Geoffrey Miller Solicitors.

“Offenders with low incomes will not see much of a distinction need to the proposals be implemented.

Tax on the wealthy?

“Taking drink driving as an instance, if a fine is imposed it is usually the equivalent of one-and-a-half weeks of the offender’;s net earnings.

“If an individual does not earn very a lot, they will not be required to spend the maximum fine.”

Miller added that for wealthy men and women, such as expert footballers, a £5,000 fine may possibly not be much of a punishment or deterrent but a £10,000 fine would be taken much more seriously.

She mentioned: “I consider this is a easy way for the government to impose a tax on the wealthier motorist which will not be met with considerably of a challenge from the basic public.

“After all, who desires to save funds for bankers and footballers of this planet?”

Convictions improve car insurance coverage charges

Gemma Stanbury, head of car insurance at Confused.com, stated convicted motorists could face greater automobile insurance coverage expenses as nicely as enhanced court fines.

“Our study has shown that there can be as a lot as a 34% increase in automobile insurance coverage costs for drivers convicted of exceeding the speed limit on a motorway.

“Excessive fines could nicely serve as a deterrent to motorists with a tendency to speed or drive recklessly.”

What do you feel?

Will increased fines for common motoring offences prove to be a deterrant? 

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Are £10,000 speeding fines fair?