Cheap car insurance news
25/08/2009

Plans to give police more power sparks controversy

The quest for cheap car insurance could become harder if the government goes ahead with plans to allow police the power to issue on the spot fines for careless driving.

Courts are concerned that by allowing officers the power to decide drivers' fates rather than the courts, many fines will be given unnecessarily to innocent motorists.

Such a move would not only leave the driver with an on the spot £60 penalty to pay, but it would also leave them with three points on their licence which would be likely to increase their women's car insurance premium.

The Magistrate's Association has raised concerns that the government proposals could lead to a "misuse" of authority by police officers wishing to increase their statistics for proactive policing.

Chairman of the association's road traffic committee Chris Hunt Cooke said, "Once they have been given these powers, the police will misuse them, that is a certainty".

"Recent experience with out-of-court disposals shows that police cannot be relied on to use them appropriately or as intended."

The move by the government was intended to free up police time from the mass of paperwork that accompanies a court summons. However, the proposals have been criticised for placing police convenience over what is right in principle.

With the rise in motorists with penalty points on their license that the change is likely to bring, many could find that cheap car insurance is even harder to find.