Motorists face new £15 'victims levy'

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Postby ROG » Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:36 pm


Motorists face new £15 'victims levy'
'Stealth tax denial'

However, ministers believe the amount raised could be significantly increased if it was extended to include people issued with on-the-spot fines or fixed penalty notices.

This could include motorists caught speeding or flouting parking restrictions and those guilty of disorder offences such as shoplifting, writing graffiti or being drunk and disorderly.

Under the plans, a fine of £60 for speeding, using a mobile phone while driving or not wearing a seatbelt would be increased to £75.

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "You will have a hard job convincing motorists this is anything other than a stealth tax to shore up a creaking system strapped for cash.

"Motorists need to obey the rules of the road but they also have to believe what they get penalised for committing relatively minor offences is fair, and not just some arbitrary figure."

He argued that if money was needed to be set aside for victims, it should come out of existing charges.

Government officials, however, deny the move amounts to a stealth tax.
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Postby Darren » Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:46 pm


Hmmm, so the motorist has to cough up to pay compensation to victims of crimes that are not motoring related. Its like our national insurance now not paying for health...its a stealth tax. Rather than trying to justify the rise, they would gain more credibility by just saying "fixed penalties will now be £X"
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Postby Big Err » Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:16 pm


Darren wrote:Hmmm, so the motorist has to cough up


Only if they are doing something they shouldn't be - ie caught breaking a regulation

Darren wrote:to pay compensation to victims of crimes that are not motoring related.


Yeah that's a bit off - would be better suited using moneys raised for road safety or road crash victim support.

It's sad that we have such levels of regulation that those that break them can be used for a stealth tax. Do you think we could further bankrupt the country if we convinced all road users to abide by the rules?
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Postby jont » Sat Jan 02, 2010 10:34 pm


Big Err wrote:
Darren wrote:Hmmm, so the motorist has to cough up

Only if they are doing something they shouldn't be - ie caught breaking a regulation

Or when they've decided it's less hassle and stress to admit to an offense than try and contest their innocence in court.
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