Motorists facing £15 hike on fines

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Motorists could face higher fines for driving offences in order to fund a government scheme for compensating victims of crime.

A surcharge has been added to fines for those convicted of crime in court since 2007, with the money going to fund support services.

But ministers now want to extend the levy to cover on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices.

Under the proposals, the current fine of £60 for speeding would go up to £75.

The levy would also apply to drivers caught using a mobile phone at the wheel, not wearing a seatbelt, or simply given a parking ticket.

In a parliamentary response, justice minister Claire Ward said: "We intend to add the surcharge to other disposals as soon as it becomes feasible to do so."

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "You will have a hard job convincing motorists this is anything other than a stealth tax to shore up a creaking system strapped for cash.

"Motorists need to obey the rules of the road but they also have to believe what they get penalised for committing relatively minor offences is fair, and not just some arbitrary figure."

Copyright © Press Association 2010

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