Scottish Police Talk Warnings, not Tickets

Police Scotland is investigating a new proposal that would give some speeders a warning, not a ticket. One that would stay a warning if drivers stay clean but turn into a fine and points if they get caught again.

The new proposal would see drivers ticketed by an officer in a 20 mph or 30 mph zone (32 km/h and 49 km/h) get a warning, the first time. Keep your speed down for the next three months, and the warning goes away. Get nicked for speeding again during that three months and that warning turns into a fine and points. It's like a suspended sentence, but for speeding offences. One that recognizes that drivers can occasionally let their speeds creep up more than they should.

Police Scotland estimates that around 18,000 drivers could benefit from the new system and receive only a warning where they would have received three points on their license and a £100 ($173) fine. A warning that would not be reported to their insurance company, keeping premiums down.

Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, the head of traffic policing for Police Scotland told The Scottish Mail on Sunday that it will let prosecution authorities focus on more serious cases. "If you have an opportunity to say, ‘Speeding is one of four fatal factors and we’re not going to prosecute on this occasion, we’re not going to give you a fine, will you accept this warning?’, I think most people will say, ‘Yes, absolutely’," Carle said. He added that it could be an opportunity to better engage with drivers, saying "if you stop someone for a motoring offence, the chance is no one has given them a row since their school days."

Jamie Greene, Scottish MP and opposition transport critic, welcomed the idea. He told the Scottish Mail that "for too long, the punishments for minor infringements have been far too severe, creating an impression of an anti-motorist agenda. These more sensible measures will help repair that damage."

The proposal would need approval from Scotland's Crown Office prosecution service but could be in place within a year if approval was granted. A Crown Office spokesperson said no decision would be made until the findings of the evaluation report have been reviewed.