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| Magistrate court fines 'may rise 300%' under new plans | Magistrate court fines 'may rise 300%' under new plans |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Maximum fines imposed by magistrates are set to rise dramatically under new proposals for England and Wales. | Maximum fines imposed by magistrates are set to rise dramatically under new proposals for England and Wales. |
| The highest maximum limits, for offences including motorway speeding, could increase from £2,500 to £10,000. | |
| Other speeding, driving without insurance and selling alcohol to a child could also see increases. | Other speeding, driving without insurance and selling alcohol to a child could also see increases. |
| Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said financial penalties "set at the right level" were an effective punishment for offenders. | Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said financial penalties "set at the right level" were an effective punishment for offenders. |
| "Magistrates are the cornerstone of our justice system and these changes will provide them with greater powers to deal with the day-to-day offences that impact their local communities," he added. | "Magistrates are the cornerstone of our justice system and these changes will provide them with greater powers to deal with the day-to-day offences that impact their local communities," he added. |
| His proposals could also see magistrates having unlimited fining powers for offences where there is currently a maximum of £5,000 or more. | His proposals could also see magistrates having unlimited fining powers for offences where there is currently a maximum of £5,000 or more. |
| Any new legislation would first have to be debated in Parliament but there is no current timetable for any such discussion. | Any new legislation would first have to be debated in Parliament but there is no current timetable for any such discussion. |
| Custody 'option remains' | Custody 'option remains' |
| Most offences that could involve a fine in magistrates' courts are subject to specific maximums, known as levels, which currently range from £200 to £5,000. | Most offences that could involve a fine in magistrates' courts are subject to specific maximums, known as levels, which currently range from £200 to £5,000. |
| Some cases, such as environmental offences, can involve even higher fines. | Some cases, such as environmental offences, can involve even higher fines. |
| Magistrates take into account the seriousness of the offence when setting the fine level. | Magistrates take into account the seriousness of the offence when setting the fine level. |
| RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister questioned the proposals. | RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister questioned the proposals. |
| He said: "People who break the law should bear the consequences but this seems such a wholesale change to the system so you have to ask what was going so badly wrong before. | He said: "People who break the law should bear the consequences but this seems such a wholesale change to the system so you have to ask what was going so badly wrong before. |
| "Ironically we know that speeding offences have declined over recent years and just last week the Department for Transport confirmed that, even after taking congestion out of the equation, recorded traffic speeds have been dropping for a decade on all types of roads." | "Ironically we know that speeding offences have declined over recent years and just last week the Department for Transport confirmed that, even after taking congestion out of the equation, recorded traffic speeds have been dropping for a decade on all types of roads." |
| James McLoughlin, from road safety charity Brake, backed tougher penalties for speeding drivers. | |
| He said: "Speed is one of the biggest killers on our roads and, through the support we provide for victims of road crashes, we bear witness to the devastating effects of speeding. | |
| "Limits are there for a reason, and more needs to be done to deter those who choose to put other road users at risk by breaking them." | |
| Record high | Record high |
| The Ministry of Justice said custody would "continue to be used for serious offenders and fines will not become an alternative for those who would otherwise be sent to custody". | |
| The proposed changes would see: | The proposed changes would see: |
| • The Level 1 fine maximum increase from £200 to £800. Offences which may be dealt with by a Level 1 fine include unauthorised cycle racing on public ways | • The Level 1 fine maximum increase from £200 to £800. Offences which may be dealt with by a Level 1 fine include unauthorised cycle racing on public ways |
| • Level 2 increases from £500 to £2,000. Offences include driving a motor cycle without a protective helmet | • Level 2 increases from £500 to £2,000. Offences include driving a motor cycle without a protective helmet |
| • Level 3 increases from £1,000 to £4,000. Offences include the sale of alcohol to a drunk person or being drunk and disorderly in a public place | • Level 3 increases from £1,000 to £4,000. Offences include the sale of alcohol to a drunk person or being drunk and disorderly in a public place |
| • Level 4 increases from £2,500 to £10,000. Offences include speeding on the motorway | • Level 4 increases from £2,500 to £10,000. Offences include speeding on the motorway |
| Magistrate fines collected at the end of 2012/13 reached a record high of £284m and continued to rise during the last financial year, the Ministry of Justice added. | Magistrate fines collected at the end of 2012/13 reached a record high of £284m and continued to rise during the last financial year, the Ministry of Justice added. |
| The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 allowed magistrates the power to impose unlimited fines for certain offences. | The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 allowed magistrates the power to impose unlimited fines for certain offences. |
| However, the government is only now tabling the appropriate legislation to put that ruling into effect. | However, the government is only now tabling the appropriate legislation to put that ruling into effect. |