Motoring fines...Motorists can now enter plea online 24 hrs a day.

[Bailiff Advice]

Today the Ministry of Justice announced that from March a new service is being rolled out across the UK and Wales allowing people charged with some minor motoring offences to enter a plea online from any suitable device (including mobile phones) 24 hours a day.

 

This will be done via a secure Ministry of Justice website and is an alternative to a postal plea or attending court in person. Motorists will be able to view their case details, view evidence and make their plea remotely.

 

Motorists who use the new service to plead guilty at the earliest possible stage will benefit by receiving the maximum credit.

 

At present the facility is limited to the following offences:

 

Failure to identity the driver

 

Using the vehicle without valid insurance

 

Driving in excess of the speed limit

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11438914/Motorists-to-be-given-chance-to-enter-plea-to-minor-driving-offences-online.html

[Coughdrop]

This looks positive. Will people get the chance to have a means enquiry hearing still, as this is often relevant to people?

[Bailiff Advice]

This looks positive. Will people get the chance to have a means enquiry hearing still, as this is often relevant to people?

 

I have quite a few procedure documents about this and this morning I raised a number of queries (one of which relates to a Means Enquiry). I hope to receive a response by the end of the day and will post up details.

 

This new way of dealing with minor motor offences has already been tested in Manchester and it would appear that over a third of motorists receiving a summons used the on line service. That has to be an excellent response. The motorist will have been given the maximum credit for an 'early plea'.

 

Most importantly, it will also mean that applications for Statutory Declarations should significantly decline.

 

It seems from the documents that I have been reading that TV licensing fines could also be considered.

 

The bad news is that the courts are looking to charge additional court costs to motorists. Figures being considered are approx £150 per offence.

[Coughdrop]

They seem to be really pushing the early response issue at present - compliance stage for enforcement issues, now this, TV Licensing, Parking Offences. It's fine if people are guilty, but they must have an opportunity for a fair hearing without being penalised for it if they believe they have a case.

[Bailiff Advice]

 

Most importantly, it will also mean that applications for Statutory Declarations should significantly decline.

 

It seems from the documents that I have been reading that TV licensing fines could also be considered.

 

The bad news is that the courts are looking to charge additional court costs to motorists. Figures being considered are approx £150 per offence.

 

TV Licensing is now included in the new online pleading which should take affect within the next week or so. The above 'charge' has now been released in statutory regulations and is called a Criminal Court Charge and the amount of £150 is indeed correct.

[citizenB]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?442043-Online-motoring-offences-plea-service-launched

 

A thread had already been started regarding this - is it a Bailiff issue ? If not, then I suggest that both this and Michael Browne's thread be merged.

 

Comments welcome

[Bailiff Advice]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?442043-Online-motoring-offences-plea-service-launched

 

A thread had already been started regarding this - is it a Bailiff issue ? If not, then I suggest that both this and Michael Browne's thread be merged.

 

Comments welcome

 

Thank you CB. I didn't know that Michael had started a thread on the same day. This particular thread also includes the reference to TV licensing as well and as it has only received a few visitors it is probably better if it stays on here as well for information purposes.

 

Also, this thread links back to the dreadful Criminal Court Charge that will also apply to all these summary offences. I will make a post on Michael's thread about it as well shortly.

[citizenB]