Tougher sentences for banned drivers who cause death on the roads and the introduction of a new offence of causing serious injury while disqualified have been whole heartedly welcomed by Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis.
The changes in law, expected early next year, will mean longer custodial sentences for motorists in Staffordshire who kill or seriously injure others whilst disqualified. Cracking down on motorists behaving illegally will make local roads safer according to Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis. He is an advocate for making sure that people who disregard the law and cause harm face tougher penalties.
A crackdown on what Mr Ellis calls ‘insurance dodgers’ in Staffordshire introduced just a year ago has already proved popular but also sent a clear message publicly which has been reflected in a reduction in Staffordshire of uninsured drivers. He said,
“A clear message that driving whilst disqualified is socially and legally unacceptable is a major statement by Government and society. The heartbreak it can cause is life changing and the evidence that clear and loud messaging changes behaviour has also been proven by the crackdown in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent on uninsured drivers. Those who drive without insurance can’t hide in Staffordshire and over 1800 have had their vehicles seized and, in some cases, scrapped.
“I look forward to the Courts having the power to be tougher on disqualified drivers and expect police in Staffordshire to continue targeting those flouting the law with the gusto shown towards eradicating uninsured drivers from our roads here.
These new changes to the law will help make our roads safer and will definitely strike an even bigger chord with law-abiding motorists.”
Staffordshire has an extensive and growing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system that identifies those flouting the law.
