Should the Police be able to fine you on the spot?

Middle Lane Hogs Face £100 On-The-Spot Fines. Click click.

Should the Police be able to deprive you of your full legal rights to allow you a day in court by playing 'Judge and Jury' and being allowed to exact summary justice, fining you on the spot?

It's all too 'Judge Dredd' for my liking.

How long before "targets" are set and "quotas" have to be met to "afford" this "invaluable" "safety service" to mankind? I foresee nothing but miscarriages of justice for car drivers while trucks overtaking each other on inclines or changing lanes dangerously goes entirely unopposed. There are more than enough current driving laws in this nanny state, including a "presumption of guilt" on the rear car which is involved in a rear end collision, which flies in the face of a "presumption of innocence" which is supposed to underpin our legal system, and has spawned an entire industry in fraudulent insurance claims?

So now, a dumb as a bag of hammers cop, who didn't enjoy his breakfast, can take out his frustration on someone for "hogging" the middle lane, solely at his say so and discretion? Not for me.

Got to disagree with David on this one. These are not new laws - simply the Police are being given the powers to fine on the spot for 'minor' offences such as using a mobile while driving or hogging the middle lane when the left lane is clear or moving at the same speed. You can still have your day in court if you insist (I expect though that the fine will go up if found gulity). I expect these new powers will act as a deterrent. I see drivers every day using their mobiles, driving single handed and exceeding the speed limit (all at the same time). The only real flaw with this concept is a lack of traffic cops on minor roads (which is where I drive most of the time). A driving licence is not an entitlement.

Richard

PS, on the spot fines are common throughout the EU

Leigh,

You are still entitled to your day in court. This is the official release, not the tabloid version.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-penalties-to-tackle-tailgating-and-middle-lane-hogging

Richard

Got too agree with Richard you still have the right to have your day in court and the point is something had to be done as tailgating and middle lane hogging were virtually going unpunished though what use these powers are without the police to enforce them is another issue.

The facility exists on most busy motorways to monitor behaviour using the existing video cameras. These cams must pick up poor driving day in day out. If there was a way for these to be analysed and the offenders warned by post about their behaviour that would be an effective way to improve general standards.
This announced change will make very little difference to overall behaviour. You just need to look at the number of people posting to justify their driving. eg Why can't I drive in the middle lane if I'm doing 70mph? Anybody who thinks I'm in the way is obviously speeding and breaking the law.
The answer to that is that you are probably not actually doing 70mph anyway, if you're watching your speedo Probably more like 64-65mph.
Breaking a rule to stop someone else breaking a different rule isn't logical.

I also agree with Richard (Blow-in), Something needs to be done to improve driving standards and this might just be it. And yes on the spot fines have been around for years in the EU.
It makes me realise just how far behind the rest of europe we are on certain things.

David Aiketgate wrote: The facility exists on most busy motorways to monitor behaviour using the existing video cameras. These cams must pick up poor driving day in day out. If there was a way for these to be analysed and the offenders warned by post about their behaviour that would be an effective way to improve general standards.
This announced change will make very little difference to overall behaviour. You just need to look at the number of people posting to justify their driving. eg Why can't I drive in the middle lane if I'm doing 70mph? Anybody who thinks I'm in the way is obviously speeding and breaking the law.
The answer to that is that you are probably not actually doing 70mph anyway, if you're watching your speedo Probably more like 64-65mph.
Breaking a rule to stop someone else breaking a different rule isn't logical.

Totally agree David.

The number of people I encounter on the M69 dribbling along in the middle lane, inside lane empty, with several cars in the outside lane overtaking the oblivious numnuts is totally frustrating. If all it takes is the risk of financial detribution to make them move over then I'm all for it.

Hopefully it'll make the traffic flow better too if all lanes are being used.

Most motoring fixed penalties offences will rise under the changes:

•a non-endorsable (where the driver does not receive points on their licence) £30 fixed penalty notice will rise to £50
•an endorsable (where points are given) £60 and non-endorsable fixed penalty notice will rise to £100
•an endorsable £120 fixed penalty notice will rise to £200
•the fixed penalty notice for driving with no insurance will rise from £200 to £300

Graduated fixed penalties (mainly for commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles and including offences like drivers’ hours and overloading) and financial deposits (for drivers without a satisfactory UK address) will also increase:

•a £30 non-endorsable fine will rise to £50
•a £60 endorsable and non-endorsable fine will rise to £100
•a £120 endorsable and non-endorsable fine will rise to £200
•a £200 endorsable and non-endorsable fine will rise to £300

Cherry picking revenue spinning legislation from Europe is fine if it actually works. Let's see if it does. Like most of us here, I hope it does.
If it doesn't, it's basically just another money making exercise which will only impact on the less well off. :yesnod:

Yesterday, I had a small works van in front of me that refused to move over and let me and others go past. The problem was that they were 'hogging' in the fast lane. After 3 miles or so I sat with my indicator on to express my intention to overtake. Still he wouldn't move. I flashed my lights, still he refused to move over. I resisted the urge to tailgate but I did 'undertake' after approx. 4 miles. I think some people get a testosterone surge if your car is quicker than theirs. So they get the hump and refuse to let you go by peaceably. :dry:

Who would get fined for that? Me or the van driver?

I still don't see how this will deter idiots on mobile phones or wilfully holding up traffic, in the middle lane. There is already legislation for both. I made no comment about new legislation. And just because a practice is common in Europe doesn't make it right for here. Driving without due care and attention, or driving negligently, which are both on the statutes, covers both more than adequately.


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Dave Baird wrote: And just because a practice is common in Europe doesn't make it right for here. Driving without due care and attention, or driving negligently, which are both on the statutes, covers both more than adequately.


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But not adequate enough to make them effective

I say fines for people in soft tops that have the roofs up on sunny summer days..

Police officer: 'do you know why we've stopped you Sir/Madam? basically today is one of only 6 days n the UK where the temperature exceeds 24 and we have 12 hours of uninterupted sunshine.. and your roof is up.. If you dont want to have the roof down then change your car.. £60 fine and 3 points for not making the most of the pathetic UK summer'

:bang: