Speed Camera Laws set to Change!

Dangerous · 21 Sep 2007 at 11:31

PH REMINDERS
Rule changes coming into force over the next week and a bit.

Make me flash - it'll cost you six pointsFirst up, don’t forget that starting this Monday, the 24th September, anyone caught “failing to identify the driver,” when caught by a speed camera or suchlike, will automatically earn themselves double points.

Thanks to the provisions set out in the Road Safety Act 2006, the government has amended the law which now means that drivers who don’t admit to their indiscretion will receive six penalty points.

Paul Smith, founder of SafeSpeed.org.uk, said: "This change has absolutely nothing to do with road safety - it's just spiteful."

"Vehicle owners should be aware that they have no obligation to 'name the driver' if they do not know who the driver was at the time of the alleged offence, and cannot discover the identity of the driver using reasonable diligence. This is a statutory defence - sometimes known as the Hamilton defence - and is enshrined in statute 172 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988."

Secondly, although vehicles with incorrectly displayed registration plates already fail the MOT test, from 1st October, the rules will be tightened further.

This is as a result of feedback from traffic enforcement cameras, Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems and road user charging technology. The new rules require the MOT tester to visually inspect the number plates, which must be present, secure, show the correct registration, colour and be the correct size, format and font.

Author: thomtum

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/speed/default.asp?storyId=16835

leaskovski · 21 Sep 2007 at 12:10

So what does that mean about the rather gay looking number plates that are in italics?

ci_newman · 21 Sep 2007 at 12:22

Interesting read... so how will they enforce the 6-point rule if legislation also states that if you can't (reasonably) work out who the driver was, then you're in the clear?

Tican · 21 Sep 2007 at 12:24

leaskovski said:
So what does that mean about the rather gay looking number plates that are in italics?

Have these not always been illegal ?

Larnica · 21 Sep 2007 at 12:27

EDIT: deleted

volospian · 21 Sep 2007 at 12:35

Hmmm, it sounds like, not only attempting to make drivers guilty until proven innocent, they now wish to penalise those who claim to be innocent even harder.

This basically says "If you say it was someone else, and can't prove that, we'll screw you over twice as bad, so you'll just have to admit your guilty to something you didn't do and take the lesser penalty".

penski · 21 Sep 2007 at 13:47

...What happens if you drive everywhere in a balaclava?

*n

Dangerous · 21 Sep 2007 at 14:00

penski said:
...What happens if you drive everywhere in a balaclava?

*n

If the car is registered to you and say it wasnt you and who dont know who you will get 6 points for not telling him who the driver was.

Murf · 21 Sep 2007 at 14:27

Dangerous said:
If the car is registered to you and say it wasnt you and who dont know who you will get 6 points for not telling him who the driver was.

That can't possibly be right. Otherwise if you genuinely didn't know then you'd have no choice but to admit guilt as to avoid a larger fine. Shocking. I'll believe it when I see it.

Muncher · 21 Sep 2007 at 14:36

Murf said:
That can't possibly be right. Otherwise if you genuinely didn't know then you'd have no choice but to admit guilt as to avoid a larger fine. Shocking. I'll believe it when I see it.

You better believe it. they have always wanted their pound of flesh and they don't really care who it comes from.

Dangerous · 21 Sep 2007 at 14:38

Murf said:
That can't possibly be right. Otherwise if you genuinely didn't know then you'd have no choice but to admit guilt as to avoid a larger fine. Shocking. I'll believe it when I see it.

Make me flash - it'll cost you six pointsFirst up, don’t forget that starting this Monday, the 24th September, anyone caught “failing to identify the driver,” when caught by a speed camera or suchlike, will automatically earn themselves double points.

So Yes it is true

stoofa · 21 Sep 2007 at 14:38

And why have these rules been bought about?
Because far too many people when caught speeding rather than putting their hands up and saying "OK, you got me" just attempt to dodge the fine.
So they use the "Don't know who was driving argument".
Surprise, surprise the government were getting a little fed up with people using this argument and have closed the loophole.
End result - those people who really cannot identify who is driving a vehicle will have a lot of trouble proving things.

Once again a case of people being given an inch but taking a mile.

leaskovski · 21 Sep 2007 at 14:54

In what circumstances would the owner not be able to find out who was driving the car? Appart from if someone had knicked it?

penski · 21 Sep 2007 at 15:03

I know a group of about eight people who all drive the same car; they're smelly hippy types and have an old merc 190E between them. It's fully taxed and MOT'd and they're all insured on it...

...What if they genuinely don't know which of them was driving it?

Would they pick someone at random to punish?

*n

Muncher · 21 Sep 2007 at 15:04

leaskovski said:
In what circumstances would the owner not be able to find out who was driving the car? Appart from if someone had knicked it?

I have access to 4 cars and am the registered keeper of 3. If I go out in one car and leave the other car with keys at home, 3 people have access to that car and routinely drive it, how can I possibly know who was driving it at any particular time?

leaskovski · 21 Sep 2007 at 15:04

penski said:
I know a group of about eight people who all drive the same car; they're smelly hippy types and have an old merc 190E between them. It's fully taxed and MOT'd and they're all insured on it...

...What if they genuinely don't know which of them was driving it?

Would they pick someone at random to punish?

*n

lol, yeah, looks like that is a valid reason! I'm thinking short straws?

wedgie · 21 Sep 2007 at 15:06

What's the issue?

Shouldn't the owner of the vehicle know who is driving their car at any given time?

leaskovski · 21 Sep 2007 at 15:07

Muncher said:
I have access to 4 cars and am the registered keeper of 3. If I go out in one car and leave the other car with keys at home, 3 people have access to that car and routinely drive it, how can I possibly know who was driving it at any particular time?

Hmm, basically, it all comes down to the truth or someone really doesnt remember driving the car that day.

BigglesPiP · 21 Sep 2007 at 15:07

What if the registered keeper doesn't have a licence?

IAmATeaf · 21 Sep 2007 at 15:13

BigglesPiP said:
What if the registered keeper doesn't have a licence?

Interesting thought there

Wonder if I can re-register my cars in my daughters and sons name