§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy with regard to on-the-spot fines for speeding offences administered by police officers; and if he will make a statement. [4622]
§ Mr. MichaelThere is no system of on-the-spot fines for the enforcement of road traffic offences but drivers who are stopped by the police for alleged speeding may be issued with fixed penalty notices requiring payment of a set sum of £40 to a court within 28 days and have their licence endorsed with three penalty points. Police officers have no authority to demand or accept payment of a fixed penalty on the spot.
Payment of the fixed penalty discharges the offender's liability to conviction by a court. It is open to a driver to decline to accept a fixed penalty and instead request a court hearing in respect of the alleged offence.
Policy on the circumstances in which fixed penalty notices are used for enforcing road traffic law is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. Guidance has been issued to forces by the Association of Chief Police Officers, with the aim of promoting a uniformity of approach to enforcement.