Tweet
Speeding motorists could be required to pay a £15 surcharge on top of fines as a contribution towards a fund for crime victims.
So far the surcharge has been levied only on fines handed down in court.
But it was confirmed that Justice Secretary Jack Straw is considering extending it to on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices, as well as to other punishments imposed by courts.
This could mean millions of motorists, including those caught by speed cameras, having to stump up extra cash on top of the minimum £60 penalty, reported the Daily Telegraph.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The surcharge has, to date, been applied only to fines, at a rate of £15. The Government is considering whether to extend the surcharge to certain types of penalty notices and other court disposals."
The Victim's Surcharge was introduced in April 2007 and latest figures show that between April 2008 and January this year it raised more than £6.6 million.
That sum could be vastly increased if the surcharge was extended to more than three million drivers handed fixed penalties for speeding each year. Other offences receiving on-the-spot fines include graffiti, shoplifting and being drunk and disorderly.
Speeding fine may get £15 surcharge - Yahoo! News UK
So far the surcharge has been levied only on fines handed down in court.
But it was confirmed that Justice Secretary Jack Straw is considering extending it to on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices, as well as to other punishments imposed by courts.
This could mean millions of motorists, including those caught by speed cameras, having to stump up extra cash on top of the minimum £60 penalty, reported the Daily Telegraph.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The surcharge has, to date, been applied only to fines, at a rate of £15. The Government is considering whether to extend the surcharge to certain types of penalty notices and other court disposals."
The Victim's Surcharge was introduced in April 2007 and latest figures show that between April 2008 and January this year it raised more than £6.6 million.
That sum could be vastly increased if the surcharge was extended to more than three million drivers handed fixed penalties for speeding each year. Other offences receiving on-the-spot fines include graffiti, shoplifting and being drunk and disorderly.
Speeding fine may get £15 surcharge - Yahoo! News UK
Comment