A Labour MP who was caught by a speed camera doing 37mph in a 30mph zone complained today at being punished the same as more serious offenders.
Tony Wright confessed his transgression to Roads Minister David Jamieson and urged him to introduce a sliding scale of penalties.
The Cannock Chase MP, who was in Wales when he was snapped breaking the speed limit, also called for enforcement to be made standard across the country.
"My support for speed cameras was diminished somewhat recently when I was done by a camera for driving at 37 miles per hour," he told the Commons.
"I have discovered since then that different areas have different speeds at which they impose penalties, which doesn't seem right.
"And I have also discovered that at the moment there is no proportionality between the excess speed and the penalty and points that are imposed.
"Let's have more flexibility or otherwise public support for the system will be eroded."
Mr Jamieson said that anyone who drove faster than the limit ran the risk of getting penalised.
But he said he recognised widespread concern over the one-size-fits-all punishment and told MPs the Government would bring in a new system "that more accurately reflects the severity of the offence" in the next road safety legislation.
"It is important that the punishment fits the crime," he added
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=14444742%26method=full%26siteid=50082%26headline=speeding%2dmp%2dhits%2dat%2d%2dunfair%2d%2dpenalties-name_page.html
Tony Wright didn't give a sh1t about the 'unfair' system before it hit him though!
And he has only just realised that,
"there is no proportionality between the excess speed and the penalty and points that are imposed"
Also, his support for speed cameras has diminished somewhat! Hah!
Now he's bleating for 'more flexibility'!
As he claims,
"otherwise public support (?) for the system will be eroded"
Bit late for that one bud!
In any case, anyone doing 37mph in a 30mph zone deserves to get 'done'!
And, Jamieson says, "he recognised widespread concern over the one-size-fits-all punishment and told MPs the Government would bring in a new system "that more accurately reflects the severity of the offence" in the next road safety legislation.
Bet the £60 + 3 points will be the 'minimum' penalty though.
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