Remove fines for small speeding

MOTORISTS caught speeding within 10kph of the limit should not be fined, according to a senator.

Alain Fouché, the senator for the Vienne, has put forward a law that would scrap fines for those caught driving up to and including 10kph higher than the speed limit.

Mr Fouché believes the current system in which drivers lose a point off their licences as well as a fine constitutes a double penalty for motorists.

The same penalty exists for those who break the law up to 20kph of the speed limit.

Mr Fouché said that by removing the fine for small offences, it would help improve the reputation of speed cameras, which are seen as little more than “cash pumps” for the police.

The offence of speeding would still be punished by losing a point.

"While the government claims that warnings and penalties for speeding are necessary, not to enable the State to raise money, but to improve the security of road users, we propose that, for small speeding offences, those in breach should not pay a fine,” said Mr Fouché.

The measure has the backing of the motoring group 40 millions d'automobilistes whose president Daniel Quéro said most offences of this type were committed “involuntarily”.