Discussion
It's more than that..
No insurance is a Level 5 fine..(and for the life of me, I can't remember what that is at the moment)
There is always 6 penalty points for the offence and a possible discretionary disqualification by the magistrates.
Needless to say, 2 x no insurance = Disqualification
No insurance is a Level 5 fine..(and for the life of me, I can't remember what that is at the moment)
There is always 6 penalty points for the offence and a possible discretionary disqualification by the magistrates.
Needless to say, 2 x no insurance = Disqualification
I agree with you...I think the offence of 'no insurance' should be an instant disqualification.
The sentences, expecially financial ones set by Magistrates are woefully inadequate and do penalise those people who work for a living as opposed to the dole scum.
My only favour of the current law is the instant 6 points for having no insurance. It could be better, but it could be worse..
The sentences, expecially financial ones set by Magistrates are woefully inadequate and do penalise those people who work for a living as opposed to the dole scum.
My only favour of the current law is the instant 6 points for having no insurance. It could be better, but it could be worse..
Streetcop said:
I agree with you...I think the offence of 'no insurance' should be an instant disqualification.
The sentences, expecially financial ones set by Magistrates are woefully inadequate and do penalise those people who work for a living as opposed to the dole scum.
My only favour of the current law is the instant 6 points for having no insurance. It could be better, but it could be worse..
problem is not that simple
a lot just cant afford it in there first place
and fineing the poor aint that brite an idear.
as there ether cant wont pay or will just go out and lift some to pay the fine.
Hi Streetcop, welcome back.
Entirely agree with a lot of what you say. The law and its application is badly out of kilter with reality and common-sense justice.
For example, the business about the unemployed yobs who get minor fines for no insurance, then the middle grade executive who does a high mileage, gets 'pinged' by the cash cameras four times in 3 years for slightly over the limit and gets banned. The cost of a 6-month ban on such a business driver is huge. He stands to lose his job, his career path, his home, have children deprived of the things their friends have and probably have a big strain put on the marriage. This is all true. The financial cost is, apparently, up to £200,000.
Now, is it any wonder the application of the law is considered unfair. Also, is it any wonder that such a person as our businessman will continue to drive whilst disqual. I'm not in the least surprised. At worst he will get put inside, but if he gets away with it he will be up to £200,000 better off. People rob banks with guns for less than that!
And this is brought about not by any positive contribution to road safety. No, it's the greed of the gov't, the lack of awareness of the real world by the Chief Constables, the stupidity of the courts and the ignorance of the cash-camera partnerships.
And, as if all that weren't enough, the driver is required to self-incriminate to receive such a penalty.
You really couldn't make it up.
Entirely agree with a lot of what you say. The law and its application is badly out of kilter with reality and common-sense justice.
For example, the business about the unemployed yobs who get minor fines for no insurance, then the middle grade executive who does a high mileage, gets 'pinged' by the cash cameras four times in 3 years for slightly over the limit and gets banned. The cost of a 6-month ban on such a business driver is huge. He stands to lose his job, his career path, his home, have children deprived of the things their friends have and probably have a big strain put on the marriage. This is all true. The financial cost is, apparently, up to £200,000.
Now, is it any wonder the application of the law is considered unfair. Also, is it any wonder that such a person as our businessman will continue to drive whilst disqual. I'm not in the least surprised. At worst he will get put inside, but if he gets away with it he will be up to £200,000 better off. People rob banks with guns for less than that!
And this is brought about not by any positive contribution to road safety. No, it's the greed of the gov't, the lack of awareness of the real world by the Chief Constables, the stupidity of the courts and the ignorance of the cash-camera partnerships.
And, as if all that weren't enough, the driver is required to self-incriminate to receive such a penalty.
You really couldn't make it up.
Agree - mein Lieblings
s are cr@p in this respect - too. But seem to remember reading in press that fine for no insurance was being upped to £1000 on the one hand, and means tested on ability to pay on the other 
Came out about same time as the "victims' levy" garbage for real hard law-breakers - those normal car creatures! 
Short of jail - they just re-offend. (And jails are full anyway - as you say and we all know!)
Insurance - most expensive part of having a car. And uninsured cost us all - NHS, our own premiums ...
Perhaps we should look at providing lowered premiums as big incentive for continuous driver improvement schemes. ADIs could do this - assessment every 5 years or so - and assessment is graded - and high grades mean less of risk - so cheaper insurance premium.
Everyone's a winner!
s are cr@p in this respect - too. But seem to remember reading in press that fine for no insurance was being upped to £1000 on the one hand, and means tested on ability to pay on the other Came out about same time as the "victims' levy" garbage for real hard law-breakers - those normal car creatures! Short of jail - they just re-offend. (And jails are full anyway - as you say and we all know!)
Insurance - most expensive part of having a car. And uninsured cost us all - NHS, our own premiums ...
Perhaps we should look at providing lowered premiums as big incentive for continuous driver improvement schemes. ADIs could do this - assessment every 5 years or so - and assessment is graded - and high grades mean less of risk - so cheaper insurance premium.
Everyone's a winner!
Teensy weensy paragraph buried in Manchester Evening News the other night.
Chap stopped by Manchester's finest on M60 - no insurance and no MOT. Banned for 6 months and fined £200.
Why don't they either order confiscation or crushing the car (if unroadworthy) as well - cos chances are this scrote who had no regard for law beforehand - will simply ride around disqualified as well!
Chap stopped by Manchester's finest on M60 - no insurance and no MOT. Banned for 6 months and fined £200.
Why don't they either order confiscation or crushing the car (if unroadworthy) as well - cos chances are this scrote who had no regard for law beforehand - will simply ride around disqualified as well!
I'm lead to believe that in South Africa, Third Party insurance is provided by the Government in the price of petrol, (something ridiculous like 20+ P/Litre). Not argueing either way, but it's an idea, especially if we who can afford it only pay the "difference" between third Party & Comprehensive.
Everyone wins.
Edited to make it clear that the "Petrol" is 20+ P/Litre, NOT the Ins. surcharge.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Thursday 24th June 23:40
Everyone wins.
Edited to make it clear that the "Petrol" is 20+ P/Litre, NOT the Ins. surcharge.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Thursday 24th June 23:40
8Pack said:
I'm lead to believe that in South Africa, Third Party insurance is provided by the Government in the price of petrol, (something ridiculous like 20+ P/Litre). Not argueing either way, but it's an idea, especially if we who can afford it only pay the "difference" between third Party & Comprehensive.
Everyone wins.
Edited to make it clear that the "Petrol" is 20+ P/Litre, NOT the Ins. surcharge.
Sounds good on the face of it but completely disregards risk, i.e you would have 17 year olds driving 20 year old high performance cars.
Yes, I make no claim for it. just threw it in for discussion. I confess, have not thought it through as it could apply here, after all S Africa is a very different place.
But, It could be one way of claiming from an uninsured driver for damage caused if it could be made to work.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Friday 25th June 00:33
But, It could be one way of claiming from an uninsured driver for damage caused if it could be made to work.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Friday 25th June 00:33
Seems to me that a good solution to no insurance is to impound the car when caught and only release it to the registered keeper with proof of insurance.
Charge for the tow, charge daily for the impound, and charge a fine on top of the whole thing. Add six points too.
Result is the driver is punished by the fine.
Driver is deprived of driving their car untill they have insurance.
Driver is encouraged to get insurance quickly so the impound fees don't get too high.
If the driver does it twice, he's most likely banned and insurance (and car retrival) will be expensive.
Unretrived cars will be sold at public auction.
Can't afford insurance? Then you can't afford to drive - simple as that.
>> Edited by modernbeat on Friday 25th June 00:48
Charge for the tow, charge daily for the impound, and charge a fine on top of the whole thing. Add six points too.
Result is the driver is punished by the fine.
Driver is deprived of driving their car untill they have insurance.
Driver is encouraged to get insurance quickly so the impound fees don't get too high.
If the driver does it twice, he's most likely banned and insurance (and car retrival) will be expensive.
Unretrived cars will be sold at public auction.
Can't afford insurance? Then you can't afford to drive - simple as that.
>> Edited by modernbeat on Friday 25th June 00:48
Yes, but the "problem people" we are talking about will walk away from the car and just go and buy another banger because they can't afford the fee. That's the problem, the "law" means nothing to them. I'm just looking for some automatic way in which they pay 3rd party insurance at least, if nothing else.
P.S. And it could solve a lot of genuine young drivers problems with high insurance premiums which themselves are part of the problem, pay as you go if you like.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Friday 25th June 01:03
P.S. And it could solve a lot of genuine young drivers problems with high insurance premiums which themselves are part of the problem, pay as you go if you like.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Friday 25th June 01:03
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff