07-09-09 Fixed penalties 1st quarter results
Figures collated by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency reveal that 11,000 fixed penalty notices have already been issued for a range of traffic offences with over 800 vehicles being immobilised.
VOSA enforcement officers can issue a graduated fixed penalty, and where the driver is unable to provide a satisfactory address within the UK, full payment is taken immediately as a deposit for offences such as a mechanical defect or drivers' hours.
More than half a million pounds has already been collected in deposit payments since VOSA started issuing fixed penalties on 28 May with over 60% of penalty notices being issued to the drivers of non-UK vehicles. Prior to the introduction of the new scheme, drivers of non UK based vehicles were usually dealt with by prohibition only.
VOSA examiners were at the same time provided with powers to immobilise prohibited vehicles considered to be a serious threat to road safety or where a driver has failed to make an immediate deposit payment.
Graduated Fixed Penalties Scheme Manager Karen Farr said: “The results of this first quarter are encouraging. This scheme enables us to level the playing field for all UK and foreign drivers. We have already started to see an improvement in compliance and that is good news for operators, drivers and road safety generally.
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Notes to Editors:
On receipt of a fixed penalty, the driver has 28 days to accept the matter and pay or request a court hearing. For endorsable offences the driving licence must also be produced within 14 days, and if the matter is accepted and paid the licence will be endorsed.
Those without a UK address where they can be found in connection with any proceedings will be required to pay a financial penalty deposit at the roadside. This will be the value of all fixed penalty notices issued or, for more serious offences where attendance at court is required, £300 per offence. In all cases the maximum deposit required will be £900. The money will be used to pay the fixed penalties or held against any fines imposed by a court. Any money not used for fines will be refunded to the driver. Failure to pay a deposit will result in prohibition and immobilisation until the payment is made.
Vehicle Immobilisation
Immobilisation legislation is to help to enforce immediate prohibitions issued against the further use of vehicles for any of the following reasons:
Drivers’ hours regulation breaches
Roadworthiness issues
Overloading
Non-payment of a financial deposit requirement
The approved VOSA immobilisation device is a PVC-covered steel cable secured by a padlock. A similar device is used in the Netherlands. A warning notice will be attached to the vehicle in an adhesive wallet containing information on how to deal with the prohibition issues that led to the Immobilisation and how to obtain release of the vehicle.
VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. VOSA is responsible for:
Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services
Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme
Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations
Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements
Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements
Providing training and advice for commercial operators
Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls
For media inquiries about VOSA, please contact: Zita Easton on 0117 954 2561 or Rachel Hicks on 0117 954 3208 or email press@vosa.gov.uk.
Page last updated: 07/09/2009