Uninsured motorist to face prison sentence

Under new Government guide lines magistrates will be given the power to hand out harsher fines or even prison sentences to uninsured drivers. On average, most drivers that get caught driving while uninsured only pay a fixed penalty of £200 but the government indent to dramatically reduce the number of uninsured motorist by 2010, consequently making the fixed penalty a thing of the past.

Each year over 250, 000 motorist are found to be driving without motor insurance, most of the drivers caught have had previous motoring convictions. By cracking down on these motorists, the Government ensure that the roads will be safer than ever before.

If a driver is stopped and cannot provide sufficient evidence that the car is insured, the vehicle will be seized and impounded on the spot. To release the car, the owner will have to pay a minimum of £100 on top of the £200 fixed penalty. These costs could rise depending on how long it takes the driver to collect the vehicle.

The Government is also set to introduce a new law that will make it an offence to possess uninsured, car weather on or off the road. This proposal is still in its infancy, as it is waiting to be passed by the House of Lords.

The number of uninsured motorist currently on our UK roads, are significantly higher than most countries in Europe. In the UK statistics show that 1 in 20 people are caught without motor insurance, when that is compared to Germanys figure of 1 in 500, it is clear to see that we have a problem in the country.

You have been warned!

Date - 15/09/2006