Magistrate Guidelines for Driving Offences.

The Magistrates Association has recently issued new guidelines to magistrates when dealing with those who commit driving offences.

In the past drivers who were in line for a driving ban could use a loophole in the law to save their driving licence and instead pay a larger fine. They would say that as a result of losing their driving licence they could lose their job which would cause 'exceptional hardship'. The new guidelines say that loss of a job is not automatically sufficient hardship to cause the Magistrate to withdraw a ban, although the Magistrate has discretion over the decision to ban.

Wev have also learned that the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) are currently taking a tougher line on those caught speeding and attempt to avoid prosecution by using loopholes in the law. They have recruited teams of lawyers and former police officers to help prosecute those trying to avoid fines and points on their licences.

This will lead to more prosecutions and should prompt employers to check licences of employees who drive on company business. So if you are thinking of trying to avoid a speeding ticket by saying that you were not driving your car at the time - beware you may be investigated in more depth than previous.