North's Vehicle Agency Gets Fixed Fine Role

The Stormont Minister responsible for vehicle licensing has introduced fixed penalties for transport offences - with his staff writing the tickets - rather than just the PSNI.

Yesterday, the DUP Minister, Edwin Poots said that Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) officers can now issue fixed penalties and that - depending on the nature of the offence - drivers can be offered a fixed penalty instead of being prosecuted through the courts - instead of this being the sole domain of the police.

Anyone coming from south of the border will be equally liable as the offences include simple things such as mechanical defects, overloading, failing to wear a taxi driver's badge, and failing to display a taxi roof sign.

As some of the offences could also attract penalty points, if an offender has committed a misdemeanour that will take them over the limit for penalty points, they will be prosecuted in court.

The fixed penalties will initially be £30 for a non-endorsable offence (one which does not result in penalty points) and £60 for an endorsable offence.

Mr Poots said: "These new powers will speed up the whole process without tying up the courts in expensive legal proceedings. They will hit non-compliant drivers and operators where it hurts - in the pocket. And of course those who comply with the law won't be affected."

Enforcement officers from the DVA can now issue fixed penalties for some offences in respect of cars, lorries, vans, buses and taxis.

However, it is envisaged that additional legislative powers will be introduced in 2011 to enable offenders to be penalised according to the type and severity of offences.

The introduction of fixed penalties is part of a major drive by DVA to change the behaviour of non-compliant drivers and operators. For example, any fixed penalties applied will be taken into account when the Agency is considering whether to suspend or revoke goods vehicle or operator licences where operators are convicted of offences involving the roadworthiness of lorries, speeding, overloading, drivers hours offences or other transport offences.

(BMcC/GK)