Now THAT'S policing :)

[YorkshireMartin]

What gets me is inconsistency. I was reading our local rag some while ago and magistrates fined a driver who had no insurance or MOT, and no full driving licence - he was fined something like £150. In ths same newspaper, the same magistrates fined a motorist £250 for not wearing a seat belt. So what harm and what potential danger is the second motorist doing by his criminal actions, other than possible danger to himself? Whereas the first - not passed a driving test?

K

Mitigation. The fine starts at the maximum and then mitigating factors are applied which reduce it. I think.

So, one guy had more mitigating factors than the other. Vehicle for employment, young family etc.

This is a half guess. It works in a similar way for prison sentences.

Anyone see the guy in the news recently who was driving a truck and using not one, but two mobile phones, at the same time?! http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ter-news/hgv-driver-caught-using-two-11982376

 

[MickCheese]

Comparing fines is difficult as they are means tested. So unless you know the financial circumstances of the defendant you cannot compare the fines.

Mick

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The one that always gets to me is watching someone jump in their car, move off ... and then take out the poxy phone ...
I came up the bypass one evening in summer on my bike, doing 80mph - 85mph (yes, I know ...) and got behind a woman in a Range Rover. It was one of those sixth sense occasions, something just didn't quite seem right. She was weaving a little so I though I'm outta here, I opened the beast up and as I drew level I glanced sideways and saw why she was weaving - she had pebble glasses, she was holding the phone in front of her eyes with both hands texting while steering with her elbows.

 

[Benchwayze]

I've just been watching a TV program about Ireland Customs and police stopped a white van and did a check on it's fuel and found RED diesel in the tank, almost full.

Now she gave them a caution and told them it is an offence but here's the kicker, the fine is 5,000 euro's and even better if he (the driver) cannot pay 2,000 euros there and then at the roadside, the van gets seized, there and then.

He was not a happy bunny to say the least as he didn't have that sort of money available to him, but I have to take my hat off to the fact that even though Ireland seems to have a reputation of being lax about many things - the lady customs officer gave this guy absolutely no quarter at all.

I wish more of our police in UK were as hard hitting about what is in actuality quite a minor offense in the scheme of things, and even harder about worse offenses.

Not always the fault of the Police Rafe. It's all down to their powers, and what they can or can't do, legally. Not sure if there is power of seizure in the UK for that offence. There should be. I agree, if the Police were allowed to do their job without progressives worrying about 'freedom' we might get somewhere.

Evenin' All!

John