One In Three Motorists Fined Every Year |
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New figures spark concerns that drivers are being used as council 'cash cows'
Figures revealed this week show that one in every three drivers is fined annually. According to the Ministry of Justice Motoring Offences and Breath Test Bulletin almost £800million was collected in fines last year after parking wardens and enforcement cameras caught more than 9.8 million drivers in breach of traffic regulations. TaxPayers' Alliance Matthew Elliott believes that local authorities are increasingly abusing the fines and charges system as a means of raising revenue. "This is an extra council tax dressed up as a law and order measure.” He said "It's time councils realised that squeezing the public for all the money they can is not a solution to their financial problems - they need to start making better use of the money they already have." The figures for parking fines are likely to increase even further this year after the introduction of the new regulations that came into practice at the end of March. The main changes incldue:
May 1, 2008 |