Speeding Fines To Be More Than Doubled

From next week, new and increased penalties will be given to motorists who are caught speeding.

The sentencing guidelines are designed to make drivers 'think twice' and will see those responsible for the most serious offences slapped with bigger fines.

Currently, the most you can be fined for speeding is £1,000 but from 24 April this rises to £2,500.

Credit: PA

The laws have been introduced after a consultation in 2016 found that the previous ones didn't take the potential harm of speeding seriously enough.

District judge Richard Williams, a sentencing council member, said: "The magistrates' courts deal with the vast majority of offenders in England and Wales, so it is essential that the guidelines they use are up to date and help ensure that sentences are applied consistently and effectively."

Under the new rules, motorists who are caught going 'well above' the speed limit will face fines starting from 150 percent of their weekly income - the current level is 100 percent.

The new system will feature three bands, which will determine how much someone should pay. These break down into the following: Band A fines, which are 50 percent of someone's weekly wage; Band B which are 100 percent and Band C, which will take 150 percent of an offender's weekly wage.

Offenders may also be given points or a disqualification.

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The sentencing council wanted the new fines to show there is a 'clear increase in penalty as the seriousness of offending increases'. So, if, for example, someone is found doing 101mph or more in a 70mph area they will be placed into the highest bracket.

According to research from Green Flag, speeding offences have increased by 44 percent over the last five years.

Pete Williams, a spokesperson from the RAC, said: "Anyone who breaks the limit excessively is a danger to every other road user and is unnecessarily putting lives at risk.

"Hopefully, hitting these offenders harder in the pocket will make them think twice before doing it again in the future."

My advice to avoid getting slapped with one of these new fines would be to not drive irresponsibly.

Source: Telegraph

Featured Image Credit: PA

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19