Drivers who are faced fine for small motoring offences will now have a £15 surcharge tax added onto their fine that will be contributed to aid groups for victims of violent crime and domestic violence.
The new tax was hinted at in a Parliamentary answer before Christmas. As a result of its approval anyone who receives a fixed penalty ticket will have the surcharge automatically tacked on.
The extra penalty will be assessed on simple motoring offences such as running a stop sign, speeding, parking tickets, and even if a vehicle is driven with dirty windows.
Ministers stated that they hope to affix the new tax on every type of fixed penalty in the future. At the moment, only those who are found guilty in court will face the new surcharge.
Justice Minister Claire Ward stated in the Parliamentary reply that it is now government policy that offenders will need to help victim’s services as part of their penalty for breaking the law. Thus, new provisions have been made that add the surcharge onto criminal convictions, penalty notices, and minor road traffic offences.
Ward also stated that in the future the ministers intend to add the surcharge to other fines as soon as it becomes possible. She also stated that the proceeds will be used to provide funding for many organizations that help victims of crime.
The new surcharge will increase the rates of many basic fines such as the cost of a penalty notice for disorder from £80 to £95 and the cost of speeding fines from £60 to £75.
