New fines for motorists caught speeding came into effect this week (on Monday 24th April 2017).
The move comes as The Sentencing Council aims to ensure there is a “clear increase in penalty as the seriousness of offending increases”. These new fines come just over a month after new penalties came into place for motorists using their mobile phones at the wheel.
Over 100,000 speeding fines are issued every year and the new laws have been put in place in the hope of encouraging more drivers to watch their speed. In Greater Manchester alone, a fixed penalty notice for speeding is issued once every 17 minutes.
What Are The New Speeding Fines?
Previously, the minimum fine for speeding was £100 and 3 points on the driver’s license. The maximum, depending on the seriousness of the offence and where it occurred, was between £1,000 and £2,500.
The new fines are split into bands A, B and C.
Band A incurs 3 points on your license and a starting point fine of 50% of your weekly income. Band B comes with a punishment of a driving ban of between 7 and 28 days or 4-6 points and a starting fine of 100% of your weekly income. Band C comes with a punishment of a disqualification for 7 to 56 days or 6 points and a starting point of 150% of your weekly income.
Which band you fall into depends on how far over the speed limit you are caught driving at. Take a look at the table below for an overview.
| Speed Limit (mph) | Band C | Band B | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 41 and above | 31-41 | 21-30 |
| 30 | 51 and above | 41-50 | 31-40 |
| 40 | 66 and above | 56-65 | 41-55 |
| 50 | 76 and above | 66-75 | 51-65 |
| 60 | 91 and above | 81-90 | 61-80 |
| 70 | 101 and above | 91-100 | 71-90 |
These are only rough guidelines as some penalties may be issued on a case by case basis.
Here at Farleys, we have a number of experienced criminal law solicitors who can provide legal advice on driving offences and during police station interviews. To get in touch with them please call 0845 287 0939 or submit your enquiry online. For emergency representation you can call our 24 hour line on 01254 606050.
