Drivers should be warned that if they are caught breaking traffic laws in any EU country in future, it’s likely they will be later prosecuted in their home country.
Currently, although drivers breaking the law are liable to pay fines or suffer other punishments if they break traffic laws in foreign EU countries, this often does not happen because of practical difficulties regarding enforcement.
As part of the European Commission initiative, it’s being proposed that all of the 27 of the EU countries establish a computerised system providing rapid transfer of car registration details between countries for motorists detected for offences such as speeding, jumping a red light or not using a seatbelt.
Until now, motorists detected by camera breaking driving laws in other European countries have often escaped punishment and have certainly been able to avoid licence endorsements, particularly if their offence was only captured on camera. In many cases even when they have been stopped, many motorists have evaded prosecution by giving foreign police their correct details. The worst outcome for a driver for commiting an offence that would normally attract 4 or more points in the UK, is that they would likely face an on the spot fine, but fact is in most cases, they just get away with a warning.
These proposed changes could mean an English driver caught on camera speeding in Barcelona, or jumping a red light in Paris for example, can be later prosecuted in the UK and receive penalty points on his licence.
The European Commission says the new computerised system will help enforcement and will be of particular value in relation to road traffic offences detected by automated devices (cameras) where the identity of the offender cannot immediately be established, such as speeding or failing to stop at a red traffic light. It will also be useful to enable the follow-up of offences where verification of the vehicle registration details may be necessary and even where the vehicle has been stopped. This is notably the case for drink driving.
The proposed computer network, which they say will be up and running within two years, will require an offending drivers home country to transmit on request the make and model of the vehicle, the driver’s name and address, their date and place of birth and for company car drivers, the company they work for also.
EU transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said: “It’s a system that is quick and simple, which will provide the number plate and address of the owner of the offending car. Drivers will now know that they have the threat of sanctions hanging over them”. It would “help to make an appreciable reduction in the current number of people killed in road accidents,” he added.
You have to ask yourself if at a later date things such as parking fines will eventually end up winging their way to drivers also. Particularly with the adoption of photographic evidence as acceptable proof.
