Cross-border fines enforcement starts on 1st October

The European legislation which allows fines issued in one country to be enforced through the criminal processes of another comes into force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 1 October 2009. The law is effective in Scotland from 12 October.

The Ministry of Justice say that the new legal process will be relevant to criminal traffic fines, such as fixed penalty notices for speeding, as well as fines issued to others such as football hooligans.

According to the European Commission the Framework decision on Financial Penalties has now been implemented by 15 member states:  Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Poland, Romania, Cyprus and Portugal. The UK will therefore be the seventeenth country to turn the European legislation into national law.

All member states had originally committed to complete the transposition process by March 2007. It is understood that following royal assent of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act in May 2008 officials in each of the UK's home nations have been planning the practical implementation. With plans now agreed the secondary legislation to complete the process can now take effect.

Analysis of the new legislation

Ministry of Justice press notice

SPARKS quoted in the press on the new law:

Daily Mail

The Observer

Other Media comments:

Daily Telegraph