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Foreign drivers could face spot fines for road offences
Page 6
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• by Dominic Perry and Mlles Brignall Foreign drivers caught committing offences in the UK could face on-the-spot fines in a move that would bring the Vehicle Inspectorate more in line with its Continental counterparts.
Last week a Department of Transport official told a delegation of FU traffic and vehicle examiners that the UK government plans roadside fines for foreign drivers who break the law.
UK hauliers regularly complain that they are forced to pay on-the-spot fines for offences such as speeding or overloading in countries such as France, while the VI can only issue prohibitions.
Foreign drivers caught breaking the law rarely see the inside of a UK court because they don't have a UK address to which a summons can be served. While the police do have the power to take a driver straight to court, this only happens rarely as there are human rights implications.
While the VI would welcome such a move, it is unclear how soon it could be pushed through Parliament.
Meanwhile, the VI has warned that its programme of roadside checks is being hampered because police officers are being diverted from traffic duty to fight spiralling street crime.
A spokeswoman says: "We continue to liaise closely with Association of Chief Police Officers and police forces around the country but occasionally other priorities intervene. However, some police forces are unable to support us as much as we would like."
She adds that it is too early to say if this will stop the VI hitting its enforcement targets.
The VI is not alone in its concerns. The Police Superintendent's Association (PSA) is warning that the falling number of traffic police is leading to an increase in road deaths. Mike McAndrew of the PSA told the BBC's Today programme: 'Should we actually be throwing resources at stopping youngsters stealing other youngster: mobile phones, which in the mar is what th street robbery explosion is about? 0 should we be using some of thos resources in actually stopping people Ian other people on the roads?"
The Department for Transport report that road deaths rose by 1% in 2001—th first increase since 1989.
• See comment, page 9.