No insurance

I note from my own sidebar links that there is great concern in Merseyside at the low level of fine imposed for driving without insurance. When I was first appointed, the guideline fine for this offence was £540. However, new guidelines were brought in several years ago relating all fines to the net income of the offender, each offence suitable for a fine being assigned to one of three bands A, equivalent to 50% of net weekly income, B, one week's net income, C one and a half weeks net income. The idea was that the amount fined for a particular offence should have an equal impact on all, irrespective of their actual level of earnings. The immediate consequence of this was that for those on very low incomes, or on benefits fine levels plummeted overnight. Later, the principle was introduced that offenders should be given credit for admitting their guilt at the earliest opportunity. The credit to be given was a one third reduction in the appropriate fine. Down went fine levels still further.

Things are further complicated by the requirement that we also apply what is known as the 'totality principle', which means that we must ensure that, where there are a number of offences being dealt with on the same occasion, the overall penalty imposed is still within the means of the offender to pay in a reasonable time (usually taken as twelve months). No insurance offences usually come as part of a 'package', the person having no licence or MOT either. The Liverpool Daily Post article mentions a maximum fine of £5,000 for no insurance. Figures like this are much loved by politicians because they indicate a suitable degree of toughness. They are notional figures in reality. Roman Abramovic or the Beckhams might be faced with this level of fine, but lesser mortals will pay substantially lesser sums.

A far greater incentive now is the power of the police to confiscate and crush cars driven without the necessary documentation. I'd rather that decision was taken by the courts than by the police, but it seems to be having the right effect.