Plea for fixed fines
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FIXED PENALTIES for certain traffic offences are planned by the Government to cut down on the number of cases handled by the courts.
The fixed penalties are only likely to apply to the less serious offences, such as speeding, and could be implemented in the next parliamentary session. More serious offences, such as reckless driving, are unlikely to be incorporated under the scheme.
A joint working party from the Department of Transport, Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's department, the police, magistrates clerks and justices, have sent these recommendations to Ministers.
Other proposals include reform of the parking tickets system which is suffering due to widespread nonpayment.
Discounts and payments within 21 days.
Latest figures show that there were 300,000 speeding convictions in 1979; 100,000 cases of failure to observe traffic directions and signs; and 160,000 cases of defective vehicles.
On this evidence, the new system could divert more than 500,000 cases away from the courts each year.