EU clampdown to hit Brit drivers
BRITISH motorists could face hefty speeding fines of more than £600 when driving abroad under new Eu-wide plans. However, foreign drivers caught offending in the UK won’t be chased by the new enforcement laws, due to a legal loophole.
The rules come into force from 6 May, and give foreign police forces access to the DVLA’S 40 million-strong driver database to track UK drivers for offences like ignoring red lights and not wearing a seatbelt. However, penalty points will not be transferred to licences. Previously, British motorists could only be fined if they were stopped by police at the roadside or had rented a hire car.
British police forces won’t be able to track foreign drivers caught here, though, because the new EU laws are based on the principle that the registered owner of a vehicle should be held responsible for all fines. That’s how the legal system works in EU countries like France, Spain and Italy, but under British law the vehicle’s driver is to blame, rather than the registered owner. RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “We are fearful differences in member state laws will mean some EU drivers committing certain offences in the UK will wrongly escape punishment.”