From the local rag...
If the courts only fine you £170 for driving without insurance, why fork out £300 for cover?
That is the question the Road Safety Partnership says drivers are asking.
The group has joined national criticism of Magistrates for not getting tough enough with the insurance dodgers.
Home Office figures show that in 2000, the average fine for driving without insurance was £188 and that 3,321 people were convicted in the County.
By 2004, the numbers charged had risen to 4,781, suggesting persistent clampdowns by police on uninsured drivers were working - but the average fine fell to £179.
The current maximum fine for driving while uninsured is £5,000.
Road Safety Partnership spokesman Greville Burgess said the situation had to be addressed.
"I want to make it quite clear that we respect and appreciate the professionalism of our magistrates," he said.
"They have a tough job and each case has to be treated on its own merits, but we also have to say that the wrong message is being sent out to drivers"
"We have real concerns that the punishments being given out for driving without insurance and more serious road traffic offences are too lenient.
"And we would urge magistrates and judges to consider the implications of their sentences - we must avoid implying the offences are trivial.
"We believe that they have a duty, not only to punish for the individual offence, but also to consider the message they are sending out to the general public."
Mr Burgess said that research had proved links between minor document offences like driving with no insurance and more serious crimes that put lives at risk.
"Studies do show that if minor things like this are investigated properly they often uncover a theme of offending," he said.
"A person who drives with no insurance is more likely to drive without a licence or MoT. That can mean incompetent drivers and unfit vehicles on the roads.
"The message the courts send out must be firm - it's not on to break any road traffic regulations."
Acting deputy justices clerk Mark Chamberlain, said there were many factors that determined sentencing.
"In deciding the level of any fine to be imposed for using a motor vehicle without insurance, the magistrates are assisted by sentencing guidelines which are based on the defendant's income," he said.
"Account is then taken of any aggravating or mitigating factors and also of any credit that must be allowed for a guilty plea.
"This process ensures consistency in the way that these cases are dealt with."
Mr Chamberlain said figures relating purely to financial penalties did not show the full picture.
"It should also be made clear that a fine is not the only penalty that can be imposed," he said.
"Defendants can be disqualified for using a vehicle without insurance.
"And if a disqualification is not imposed, then penalty points are endorsed on the driving record. Two convictions within three years can result in a minimum six month disqualification.
"If a defendant persists in driving without insurance, he would then be driving while disqualified which carries a term of imprisonment of up to six months."
Mr Chamberlain also pointed out that the police now had the power to seize motor vehicles if a driver was found to be without insurance.
A Police spokesman said it was not their place to criticise the sentences of magistrates and judges.
The British Justice system- don't you just love it.
