Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 May 2006. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 June 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Road Traffic Regulations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of section (a) 54 and (b) 62 of the Road Traffic (Offenders) Act 1988; what recent representations he has received about the operation of this Act; if he will place in the Library copies of such representations; and if he has any plans to (i) amend and (ii) repeal this Act.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.I have received no recent representations about this Act, which there are no plans to repeal.The Government do not however propose to introduce a Graduated Fixed Penalty and Deposit Scheme. This would amend Part III of the Act, in which the sections referred to are located and which deals with the fixed penalty system for motoring offences. The proposals are contained in the Road Safety Bill, currently before Parliament.The new Scheme would allow for a graduated system of fixed penalties for traffic and roadworthiness offences, so that the level of penalty would vary according to the level of offence severity and number of offences committed. There would also be new arrangements for enforcement examiners of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to issue fixed penalty notices.There would also be a provision for the taking of deposits, similar to arrangements in many other EU countries. This would require drivers without satisfactory proof of an address in the UK to make an immediate payment at the roadside at the time the offence is committed. The deposit would be returned if the driver was subsequently found innocent by the Courts.

Secondary information