20 May 2013

Special traffic courts in the UK

Irish motorists who drive in the UK for business or pleasure should take note that traffic-light jumpers and speeding motorists are to be dealt with in special traffic courts in a bid to free up time for more serious cases.

About half a million motoring cases are heard in magistrates' courts every year there and these can often take longer to progress than major offences, according to the UK Ministry of Justice.

They want the traffic courts to reduce delays as part of a wider plan to improve Britain's criminal justice system.

The nine areas which have trialled the new traffic courts are Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Metropolitan Police, Nottinghamshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and West Yorkshire.