Dangers Of Downgrading Dangerous Driving Penalty

Wednesday, 19. August 2009

A row has broken out between the Government and the Magistrates Association over proposals by the Department for Transport to introduce fixed penalties for careless driving. The proposal will give the police new powers to impose a fixed penalty of £60 and 6 points on the licence where a driver admits to an act of careless driving. The Magistrates Association is furious as they feel it diminishes the serious nature of careless driving and will lead to abuse by the police. The magistrates feel that given the potential serious nature of the offence all cases should be heard in court giving both sides the opportunity to explain what happened and, if the driver is found guilty, the most appropriate sentence applied, which can be a fine of £5,000 and 9 points on the licence. As they point out it will lead to drivers admitting to careless driving, even when they feel they are innocent, rather than go to court. Chris Hunt Cooke, chairman of the association’s road traffic committee said ‘Regrettably, recent experience with out-of-court disposals shows that the police cannot be relied on to use them appropriately or as intended.’ A spokesman for the police pointed out that this move would free police time by taking away the bureaucracy in cases where the crime has been admitted, all of those caught by the police will still have the right to go to court. By Graham Hill