£10,000 fines for speeding on motorways

16/06/2014

Drivers caught speeding on motorways could soon be fined up to £10,000 under plans being considered by the UK Government.

Under the new proposals, magistrates would be able to issue fines four times larger than they can at present, with maximum penalties for a range of ‘level four’ offences, including drink-driving and driving with defective tyres or brakes, all increasing to £10,000.

People convicted of criminal damage, racially aggravated disorder or failing to provide a drugs sample could all be fined the same amount.

Meanwhile, motorists who ignore red traffic lights or use their mobile phone while driving, both of which are 'level three' offences, could be given fines of up to £4,000 - up from £1,000 at present.

The Government paved the way for the huge increases - the first in more than two decades - when it passed new legislation in 2012. Justice Minister Jeremy Wright says the changes would give magistrates the "greater powers" they need to punish offenders.

But motoring groups have criticised the changes, with Robert Lipton, director of the National Motorists Action Group, labelling them "disproportionate and draconian", while Edmund King, president of the AA, added: "We wouldn't condone excessive speeding ... but fines have to be proportionate to the offence. One has to question whether increasing the fines four-fold is proportionate and it probably isn't."