FINES FOR MOTOR OFFENCES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22112, 7 June 1937, Page 4

FINES FOR MOTOR OFFENCES

«'0 THB EDITOR OF THE PBBB9 Sir,—May I again bring up the question of what I consider excessive fines for motor offences —such trivial matters as over time limit parking, no tail light, etc. First offenders are penalised sometimes up to £1 plus costs, and the motoring public are entitled to move in a proper constitutional manner for some amendment. The Automobile Associations, when they discussed the matter last month, approached the thing from the wrong angle. No one disputes the Magistrate's right to fine a first offender £1 for wrong parking, but that first offender has a perfect right to seek an amendment of the lnw, so as to reduce the fines in future. We are all hemmed in with motor regulations for every conceivable thing as far as motoring goes, and may I ask the Automobile Association to approach the Government with a request that fines be included in such regulation, say, first offence ss, second 10s, third £l, and after that no mercy. This would make uniformity of fines for similar offences, and allay the present public feeling that motorists are getting it "too hot" for trivial offences, whilst very often criminals get off with probation and no fine whatever. —Yours, etc., June 4, 1937.