New Speeding Fines In effect from Today
Published Date: 24th Apr 2017
From The 24th of April 2017 any speeding fine produced will vary based on the wages of the offender, this could see 25% or up to 175% of your weekly wage being handed over depending on the severity of the offence. Serious offenders can also be handed a 56 day disqualification.
How will the new speeding fines get divided up?
Fines will be divided into three bands, Category A, B and C. Band C will house the most serious of fines which will be brought upon a speeder doing 51mph and above in a 30mph zone and 101mph and above in a 70mph zone. Band B will cover moderate speeding like 41-50mph in a 30 mph limit and 91-100mph in a 70mph limit. Band A will cover the rest of those just speeding above the limits set out on the roads such as travelling at 31-40mph in a 30mph restricted area and 71-90 miles per hour in a 70 restricted area.
So with the different levels of speeding bands there is also differing levels of fines. Band A will warrant three points and a fine ranging between 25-75% of the drivers weekly wage. Now Band B fines range between 75% and 125% of the weekly income and could include a 7 to 28 day disqualification or 4 to 7 penalty points. Band C reserved for the heavy fines and disqualification will feature 125% to 175% fines and also disqualification for up to 56 days or six points. For even higher speeds more points or a longer disqualification will be implemented. The fines are capped however by the sentencing council at £2500 for motorway offences and £1000 everywhere else.
Each and every fine will start out at the middle point, so 50% for a band A fine then the final figure will either go up or down by 25% depending on the speed and environment and history. They will look at other vehicles around at the time, the standard of driving while speeding and other factors. A good driver with no previous convictions and good conduct throughout may only have to face up to the minimum percentage fine.
The sentencing council has said the new fines reflect the increase in potential damage and harm that can result at the higher speeds. What categorises a speeder as a serious offender is the amount they exceed the limit by, and this differs between the speed restrictions on a road or motorway. The average speeding fine in 2015 was £188, and the courts went on to sentence 166,965 speeding offenders.
Sentencing Council member and district judge Richard Williams 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.
“We have listened to the views of magistrates, criminal justice professionals and others with an interest in particular offence types in developing these guidelines. We are grateful to all those who responded to the consultation and helped shape the final versions that will be used in courts.”