HC Deb 17 December 1959 vol 615 cc1641-2
58. Mr. C. Royle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to amending the law to enable police officers to impose fines on the spot.

56. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the introduction of a ticket system of fines for traffic offences in the Metropolitan area, as practised in the United States of America, details of which have been sent to him, in order to save the time of the police and improve the enforcement of traffic discipline on the roads.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I am considering the desirability of introducing a system, similar to one form of the ticket system in use in America, which would enable drivers who admit parking and similar offences to pay a fixed penalty to a court wthout formal proceedings. I think that a system of this kind is to be preferred to empowering police officers to impose fines on the spot, since the offender is given the opportunity of appearing before a court if he wishes to do so. I am not yet, however, in a position to announce a final decision.

Mr. Royle

In many places that answer will give a great deal of satisfaction, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a large body of opinion that such a system even as he suggests would be against the ideals of British justice, that it does to some extent make a policeman both judge and jury in the situation of that kind? Will he give it very serious consideration indeed?

Mr. Butler

Yes. The fact that I had already considered this matter and was able to answer the hon. Gentleman's Question shows that. This is another opportunity I have had this morning to refer to another place, and I hope that they will observe that action is being taken on certain matters. In regard to the anxieties of the hon. Member, he will see that we are taking them into consideration and are ready to take the right action when the time comes.