Principles of Speed Enforcement
The enforcement of traffic law by the police should be guided by the principles of PROPORTIONALITY in applying the law and securing compliance; TARGETING of enforcement action; CONSISTENCY of approach; and TRANSPARENCY about what enforcement action is undertaken, and why; and recognition that effective PARTNERSHIP with other organisations is essential.
Proportionality
Proportionality means relating enforcement action to the risks. Those whom the law protects and those on whom it places duties expect that action taken by the police to achieve compliance (in this case speed limits) should be proportionate to the risks to individuals and property and to the seriousness of any breach.
Targeting
Targeting means making sure that enforcement action is directed primarily at those whose behaviour poses the greatest risk (particularly to others), often at identifiable locations or circumstances. Targeting needs to take full advantage of a wide range of information sources, including academic research, to develop a greater level of understanding of what the problems are and how to resolve them, so that enforcement action can be properly focused and prioritised.
Effective targeting will therefore ensure that road risks are objectively identified and prioritised for appropriate action; that suitable resources are deployed; and that pertinent monitoring and evaluation takes place so that costs and benefits can be properly assessed and future decision making enhanced.
Consistency
Consistency of approach does not mean uniformity. It does mean taking a similar approach in similar circumstances to achieve similar ends. Police officers are faced with many variables; the decision on enforcement action is a matter of judgement and the police officer must use discretion.
Road users do expect consistency from the police nationwide, and this feature has been identified as a benefit linked to the operation of safety cameras. Inconsistencies in enforcement practices undermines public confidence and contributes to resentment.
The table below sets out the speed thresholds that will be used by the police service to ensure that proportionate and consistent enforcement action is taken. These thresholds are intended to strongly guide the use of police discretion - but this should not be seen as an indication that action will necessarily be taken against all offenders breaking this threshold.
The overall level of resources into securing compliance must remain a matter of policy to be determined locally - but given similar circumstances an offender can legitimately expect to receive similar treatment countrywide.
Speed Enforcement Thresholds
|
Limit
|
Fixed Penalty
|
Summons
|
|
20 mph
|
25 mph
|
35 mph
|
|
30 mph
|
35 mph
|
50 mph
|
|
40 mph
|
46 mph
|
66 mph
|
|
50 mph
|
57 mph
|
76 mph
|
|
60 mph
|
67 mph
|
86 mph
|
|
70 mph
|
79 mph
|
96 mph
|
|
|
Fixed penalty of
1. £60
2. License endorsed with
3 penalty points
|
Magistrates discretion (level 2) maximum of:
1. £1,000
2. License endorsed - range of penalty points available
3. Disqualification
4. Compulsory re-testing
|
Transparency
Police enforcement policy, and the principles upon which it is based, must be open and transparent if public confidence is to be maintained and compliance with the law secured. Transparency means helping drivers to understand what is expected of them and why; it also means ensuring clarity about what the public can expect from the police. Raising the public's understanding of the full implications of their action (specifically including the human and financial costs) will assist in changing behaviour and ultimately attitudes.
Effective Partnerships
Effective speed enforcement cannot be carried out by one agency acting alone. The police service will actively seek to develop close working relationships with others (e.g. highway authorities, magistrates courts, education authorities) in order to promote road safety. We will strive to develop these partnerships so that approaches to speed compliance which do not rely solely upon sanctions are fully exploited.
Camera Safety Scheme (Cost Recovery Scheme)
The camera safety scheme represents a successful working partnership formed with the 4 Unitary Authorities and the Magistrates Courts Service as one of eight areas selected to pilot the safety camera cost recovery scheme.
The Cleveland Partnership adopted the 3 key objectives of the scheme:
1. To demonstrate a reduction in accidents and casualties through additional speed enforcement
To make sure all enforcement using safety cameras contributes directly to achieving this objective, the 4 local authorities identified suitable camera sites, based on existing speed and casualty data. The resulting roads, known as target roads, have a proven record of speed related collisions and represent a high and unacceptable risk to road users.
2. To develop workable, non-bureaucratic arrangements for recovering the costs of additional camera activity through hypothecation of fine revenue
Funding arrangements mean that the cost of speed enforcement can be met by claiming back revenue from speeding fines. In other words, based on the principle of 'the polluter pays', the offending driver pays for the administration of scheme.
3. To reassure the public that the motivation behind the additional activity is road safety and not income generation
Every effort has been made to make sure the public is fully aware of the schemes objectives, involving briefing packs issued to all press and media, radio advertising and bus back campaigns. All vehicles associated with the scheme Future campaigns will benefit from the appointment of a communications manager to the scheme, whose sole responsibility will be to ensure that the public are kept informed and aware.
National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (N-DORS)
Cleveland police along with our partners are committed to N-DORS. It gives some motorists who have contravened a speed limit an opportunity to be educated rather than receive an endorsement. To read more follow the link:
http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1462
