It has been reported today that Nottinghamshire has been involved in a trial for the government whereby specialised traffic courts have been instigated in an effort to fast track the court system dealing with motoring offences such as speeding and no insurance.

Since May 2012, in Nottinghamshire, most routine motoring offences have been scheduled to be heard at the Mansfield Magistrates Court, freeing up valuable court time for more serious matters at the Nottingham and Worksop Magistrates’ Courts. Initially on Mondays, but now also on Tuesdays, Mansfield has operated courts devoted to dealing with road traffic law – the case load of 160 or so cases now being split to around 80 cases a day! Ironically, this scheme came about hot on the heels of the closure of the Newark and Retford Magistrates’ Courts in Notts on ‘cost saving’ grounds. Read Full Article »

Interesting guidance over driver offence prosecutions emerged last week, which could prevent drivers being charged if they kill a loved one.

The Crown Prosecution Service guidance acknowledges that those who cause the deaths of close friends or relatives while driving “bear a particularly heavy responsibility”, according to director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer. Read Full Article »

Hot on the heels of the new drug driving offence being written into law comes the announcement that drink driving rules have been tightened up.

From next month, the most dangerous drink drivers, including those that have a drink problem and persistently break the law by getting behind the wheel, will have to pass a medical before being allowed. Read Full Article »

A recent case that went to the Appeal Court related to an operator who was charged with allowing a subcontractor to use an operator’s licence issued to the company with intent to deceive. The defendant submitted that it had not been established that anyone holding a position of sufficient responsibility within the company knew or ought to have known about the misuse of the operator’s licence, so as to form the necessary intent to deceive. Read Full Article »

A new offence of drug driving became law last week after the Crime and Courts Bill received its Royal Assent.

It means that those found guilty of the offence can receive a maximum of six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000, with a 12-month automatic driving ban.

Previously, in order to prove impairment, drivers had to go through a series of outdated roadside tasks, such as balance and coordination tests.

A failure led to a visit to the police station and a blood sample taken by a doctor was then sent off to a lab for analysis. Read Full Article »

A recent case that went to the Appeal Court has confirmed the position with regard to convictions for the offence where two or more people are recorded as being the registered keeper of one vehicle and that vehicle is seen to be involved in the commission of an offence.

Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as substituted by Section 21 of the Road Traffic Act 1991) provides that the registered keeper of a motor vehicle is required to provide the identity of the driver at the time an offence has been committed. Read Full Article »