2008-10-13 16:32:31 - It seems that just by having your number plate photographed by a speed camera is not nearly enough to warrant a fine and points on your licence. It also depends on where you live too; this is becoming known as the number plate lottery.

Speed cameras, Number plates and the chances of being fined



The figures for those number plate images, which appear on the speed camera to those that are actually followed through with a ticket, vary dramatically. They are, London (35 per cent), Avon and Somerset (36 per cent), Mid and South Wales (41 per cent), West Yorkshire (45 per cent), Essex (47

per cent), Merseyside (48 per cent) up to Cumbria (84 per cent).

Clearly, London has many problems and maybe they are not too concerned with speeding tickets, but why not collect this cash?

Kevin Delaney, former head of traffic at Scotland Yard said, "In urban areas there is much greater movement, people tend to change addresses more often and their details are often not sent to the DVLA,"

"As a result the DVLA records are less likely to be accurate than in rural areas and the stockbroker belt.

"Some forces give traffic more priority than others. Some will put more effort into cameras and following up cases.

"In others, where traffic is less of a priority, they are less likely to be prosecuted in the first place, and if they give an excuse that is more likely to be accepted. In cities, the main priorities are organized crime, terrorism and drugs."

There are many reasons as to why this cash is not collected, cloned number plates, foreign number plates and vehicles which are not registered with the DVLA.

A spokesperson for the London Safety Camera Partnership said, "A lack of court time has hindered our efforts to increase the number of prosecutions for these offences," the spokesperson said.

"We are working with the Courts Service and Crown Prosecution Service to increase the amount of court time we are given to pursue prosecutions."

Rob Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety said, 'The figures, for example, for the Met are very poor - not surprising, given the nature of the London driving population," he said.

"So, part of the lottery effect is explained by police activity and part by the compliance of the driving population in that area."

Source [Telegraph]

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Personallyyours.co.uk who is registered with the DVLA has been in the personalised number plate industry for twenty years. They provide private number plates, rare number plates, attend number plate auctions and buy cherished number plates.