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More uninsured drivers – but fines are cut
Jun 8 2007

by Sam Lister, Daily Post


THE NUMBER of North Wales drivers successfully prosecuted for not holding insurance went up by almost 70% in four years, figures revealed last night show.

But the average fine handed out by magistrates was one of the lowest across Wales and England at only £154 – a fraction of the cost of a policy.

Home Office figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that of the 43 force areas, two-thirds levied heavier penalties on offenders than North Wales.

In 2000 the average fine for driving without insurance across the area was £230 and 2,848 people were convicted.

By 2004 – the latest figures available – the numbers charged had risen by 68% to 4,797, but the average fine fell to £154.

Lib Dem Transport spokesman Paul Rowan last night criticised magistrates for giving out the "wrong message."

He said: "The Department of Transport and Home Office need to get their act together and do something.

"The problem of uninsured drivers needs to be given a greater profile and fines need to be larger.

"Fines should be increasing not decreasing.

"There are a huge number of uninsured drivers on the roads who cause a disproportionate number of accidents.

"We need a Commons debate – then ministers will have to listen and act."

Derbyshire magistrates on average hit drivers flouting the law with fines of £367 – more than twice that of North Wales.

Courts are allowed to hand out fines of up to £5,000 to anyone found guilty of driving while uninsured and can also hand out up to eight penalty points.

The Home Office said it was committed to the problem and measures were in place if courts chose to hand out the maximum fines.

has any one got the figres for the rest of the country?
paul could you e-mail the lib-dems?


As a secondary thought.... are fines being reduced because the car has been crushed and that is being taken into concideration in the level of fine?

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code