Fines for many motoring offences could rise by 50 per cent as part of a proposal put forward by government ministers.
As a result, anyone caught speeding, tailgating, cutting someone up, driving using a mobile or not wearing a seat belt, would receive a £90 fine, up from £60, plus three penalty points.
The move, which estimates suggest will raise an extra £33.5 million a year, would mean the Treasury raises around £100m a year from motoring offences.
Campaign groups including the AA and RAC Foundation welcomed moves to crackdown on anti-social driving, but warned that the moves could be interpreted as an attempt to raise money rather than tackle a serious problem.
Robert Gifford, head of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, added: “In 2011, just over 26,000 drivers were prosecuted for careless or inconsiderate driving according to Ministry of Justice figures.
"The question will be whether there is an increase in enforcement as a result of this proposal.”
On coming to power, the coalition government claimed it would “end the war on motorists” that it said the Labour government had waged.
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Stealth Tax
There may be an argument for increasing the fines as time goes by, but 50% in one hit is absurd.
That is like increasing VAT or base rate income tax to 30%!
Maybe coalition MP's have seen a 50% increase in their earnings
(actually the Lib Dems with Cabinet jobs probably really have) but nobody working in the private sector has.
I was told many years ago that anyone volunteering to be elected is probably not fit for office, and out of touch suggestions like this just bear that out.
When will those in office with their snouts in the trough even try to get a grip on the real world the rest of us (who fund their gravy train) have to inhabit?
Silly question I suppose because they don't want anythng to do with the real world, that is why they are politicians!
Tax?
Yet another stealth tax to help reduce our Country's deficite,and we are contributing more again than any other tax paying sector, no change there then, eh?
Jim Holder wrote: anyone
Of these as we all know speeding is the easiest to enforce. The others require a pair of eyes on the road and I can't recall the last time I saw a Police patrol on the motorway or in a lay-by. Not sure how the government are going to magically reconsile lower police budgets and greater enforcement.