Police quietly lowered the speeding threshold leading to a massive surge in fines
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It turns out that UK police lowered speeding thresholds, which reportedly lead to a surge in fines.
What makes it bizarre is that that the rule change was low-key made in 2019 and not a lot of us knew about it.
Well, a new report in The Times has shone some light on the issue.
The publication reports that a whopping 347,000 drivers have been warned of prosecution for speeding between January and June this year, which is a much larger number to the 97,000 drivers, six months before the change.
Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, claims that the change has caused 'an absolutely massive increase in taxi drivers receiving three, six, nine and 12 points in a three or four-week period — some of whom have been driving 35 years as a professional driver without a single point on their licence'.
The way it used to work is that a driver should face no consequences if they break the speed limit by 10 percent plus 3mph.
However, some police forces have now enforced a 10 percent plus 2mph rule, which is an lower threshold than previous, by 1mph.
The Metropolitan Police, who implemented the new rules on 14 May 2019, told the publication: "Posted speed limits are the maximum speed that road users should travel at any time ... irrespective of the speed threshold that police commence enforcement action."
LADbible has contacted Met Police for comment.
Results from UK speed camera tolerance survey conducted by Auto Express in 2019:
So, if you’re caught by a speed camera, you'll receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) and you must return the Section 172 notice within 28 days, telling the police who was driving the car.
If you ignore the notice, you may have to go to court.
Also, if you’re stopped by the police, they can give you a verbal warning, give or send you an Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), which will order you to go to court.
When you get a FPN you can choose to plead guilty or not guilty.
If you plead guilty, you’ll have to pay a £100 fine and have 3 points added to your licence, unless you’re given the option to attend a speed awareness course.
If you plead not guilty, you can be fined more and get more penalty points if the court decides you’re guilty of speeding.
You could also be disqualified from driving or have your licence suspended.
