Speeding fines could rise to £100

28th February 2012

Motorists who break the speed limit could face tougher fines under new Government proposals.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke wants to increase the penalty from £60 to between £80 and £100, £20 of which would go towards compensating the victims of crime – the so-called Victim’s Surcharge.

The same increase would apply to drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt of using a mobile phone while driving.  Dangerous driving offences such as tailgating could be dealt with by a fine rather than going through the court system.

Motoring organisations immediately slammed the proposals.  “Clearly speeding motorists are law breakers, but their punishment should fit the crime – not turn into a tax paid only by this particular group of offenders because it is easy to collect,” Professor Stephen Glaister, Director of the RAC Foundation, said.

“The proposed increases for motoring offences include those in relation to excessive speed, control of a vehicle, mobile phone use, ignoring signals and pedestrian crossings, and failure to wear a seatbelt,” Ken Clarke said.  “The exact amounts will depend on a detailed assessment of what effect they would have on payment rates, and on public consultation by the Department for Transport early this year.”