Europe to enforce driving penalties across borders (Ilford South Liberal Democrats)

Ilford South Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Europe to enforce driving penalties across borders

December 17, 2008 4:48 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

MEPs are set to endorse legislation approved by the European Parliament's Transport Committee which would enable cross-border enforcement of penalties for the serious driving offences of speeding, drink driving, failure to wear a seat belt and running red lights.

Currently tickets for traffic offences incurred in states other than the driver's home country mostly get ignored. This means impunity for irresponsible driving that puts safety at risk. The new legislation would mean that the authorities in the offender's home state will be notified that he has failed to pay within the specified period, and they will then recognise and enforce the penalty, whether criminal or administrative.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, who has campaigned with Transport for London for proper cross-border enforcement, said:

"Londoners will be safer in future when we are no longer taken for a ride by drivers who can commit serious offences but get off scot free by skipping the country. Making sure criminals are caught is one of the main benefits of European cooperation."

"I hope that in the future we can build on this legislation to end all cross-border fine dodging as well. London taxpayers currently lose millions of pounds a year because of inadequate systems to make foreign drivers pay fines for less serious breaches like parking, breach of the congestion zone or illegal use of bus lanes."