New pilot scheme puts cash from motoring fines backing to maintenance
of cameras.
The rate at which forces the issue Speeding tickets is set to
quadruple, under new plans to raise money from fines incurred by
motorists at speed and red light cameras.
Eight Nationwide pilot schemes will allow cash
from fines to go directly to the maintenance of speed cameras
and to fund collection of fines by magistrates.
Under the present system all fine revenue goes
to the Treasury, instead of local authorities which maintain the
cameras and police to enforce penalties.
The plan is set to end the 'cameras with no film'
scenario, where police are forced to leave the device is empty
because of insufficient civilian staff to process the large volume
of fines.
The UK SpeedTrap Guide has learned that one force
in the pilot, Cleveland Constabulary, expects to issue 30,000
extra tickets in the first year of the scheme which starts on
1st April, 2000.
The recent announcement from the government that
the fixed penalty is to increase from £40 to £60, Cleveland is
expecting to rake in £1.8 million in revenue from the cameras
in the first year.
The remaining seven forces in the pilot scheme
are, Essex, Northamptonshire, Thames Valley, Nottinghamshire,
South Wales, Lincolnshire and Strathclyde, could each generate
much more cash as some are larger forces with many more cameras
than Cleveland, which has five speed and six a red light cameras.
A conservative estimate could see the pilot forces combined making
more than £14 million in a first year.
From April this year, we will see more cameras
and more pictures being taken in these areas. They are looking
at a targeted approach. The police are not seeking to impose blanket
enforcement nor harass the motoring public, and this does not
mean zero tolerance for speeding.
The money for the scheme will be ring-fenced, and
extract cash generated will be ploughed into road safety initiatives,
such as education and publicity. It may also be used by local
authorities to improve roads at accident spots.
Motoring organisations such as the RAC, fear the
move may lead to a public outcry, potential backdoor privatisation
of the camera fine collection, and the erosion of the police's
role in traffic enforcement.
If the forces employ a zero tolerance policy and
reduce the threshold at which fines are imposed, the public will
not accept the scheme.
Currently, ACPO lays down guidelines for camera
trigger speeds. The average trigger speed is in the region of
the limit plus 10 per cent, plus two miles per hour - although
there are local variations.
One of conditions of the new scheme will entail
forces issuing more than the usual amount of tickets in order
to be able to keep up the extra revenue.
If a reduction of thresholds occurs at which police
enforce the fines, and this coincides with the new system of raising
revenue, and this becomes widely known, then the public acceptability
of the system will collapse.
If part of the deal it is a reduction in these
thresholds, then police discretion in issuing fines and placing
cameras is no longer seem to be relevant... It could lead to a
reduction of public confidence to such an extent that some would
the more than happy to see the police taken out of this area of
traffic.
Under the plan, the Treasury would still get the
revenue from the first 10,000 tickets issued and that the partnership
would benefit hundred per cent from the revenue generated by the
30,000 extra fines.
The understanding is there will still be police
discretion. It will involve targeting, an appropriate response
and transparency. It is not a money-spinner for the police, and
they will not be employing a jackbooted approach.
This move could generate a real debate. If people
revolt as they did against the poll tax, the whole thing could
be a disaster. At the moment, 91 per cent of people pay their
fines. If they start refusing to pay, the court system could jam
up in weeks.
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