Monday 4th March 2002

Nokia Fine Slashed

The Nokia exec fined over £75K for speeding (see here) has had his fine reduced to around £3500 on appeal.

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[XPLOD]

This issue really gets my goat. Courts should not be told what a persons income/assets are when handing out sentences, whether it be for a motoring offence or any other. If Person A rapes someone, should their sentence be reduced because they're hard up? Or increased because they are wealthy? No. Punishments should fit the crime, and not be swayed by a persons ability to pay or conversly any mitigating sob story.

[kevinday]

In principle I agree with the sentence should be set by the crime, however, for fines related offences, generally civil not criminal then a means based fine makes more sense. Some d******d popstar, or footballer etc can afford £250 3 times a week for a bit of speeding, for somebody who earns a real wage this is not possible, therefore make fines based on a percentage of monthly income, fix the percentage for the offence, this then creates a level 'playing field' for all.

[ap_smith]

Yeah, but you can't escape the points side of the ban, footballer or not. I think most people would agree that the cost of the average fixed penalty is an annoyance rather than a real financial burden. It's only when you get towards the more interesting speeds that the 4 figure fines get banded about.

But then we get into the issue of Beckham getting off with a caution, and inspectors have 'no further action taken' with speeding offences. Now that really pi55es me off.

[outlaw]

quote:This issue really gets my goat. Courts should not be told what a persons income/assets are when handing out sentences, whether it be for a motoring offence or any other. If Person A rapes someone, should their sentence be reduced because they're hard up? Or increased because they are wealthy? No. Punishments should fit the crime, and not be swayed by a persons ability to pay or conversly any mitigating sob story.

shorry m8 but Its reality check time

so right you nick some one one the dole with no money fine them the max say a thousand quid.

so where the hell you thing there going to get the money to pay it.

only one choice really nick it .

now you have too crimes catchem for that one you got 3

i remember being at court one day .

theres a hooker up in frount of the court

her only income was the dole or street walking so the dumb twats fine her £900

SO GUESS WHERE SHES GOING THAT NIGHT.
having said that what the point in doing her in the first place, where the victim ?

sound like income tax to me.

If you want to stop crime its a real brite ider to find poor pepole with big fines

good if you want to start a crime wave

from reading your other posts i thourt you had a brain by reading this one im begining to wonder







>> Edited by outlaw on Tuesday 5th March 19:21

[marv]

The suns headline just proves that fines are not being paid no matter of the ammount...

Its obvious that fines dont have the impact the gov wants them too.

- Those who cant afford to pay dont
- Those who can afford to pay often dont miss it

Its mr average income that has to pay and can only just afford to..