Foreign speed drivers 'not fined'

Cameras caught more than 1,000 foreign drivers speeding

More than 1,000 foreign drivers caught speeding in Kent escaped without penalty, police figures have revealed.

The force said none of the 1,148 drivers from abroad who broke the speed limit on camera in 2004 were fined.

UK drivers are traced through the DVLA database and fined within the 14-day notice period, but there is no easy way to trace foreign drivers, police said.

Kent Police said it was working with other forces and the government to address the problem.

But a spokesman said foreign drivers caught speeding would still be pulled over and arrested where necessary.

'On-the-spot fines needed'

The RAC has called for on-the-spot fines to be issued, which is the method used in France.

Spokesman Kevin Delaney said: "The RAC foundation would have no problem with introducing on-the-spot fines.

"Certainly they are widely used on the other side of the Channel by the French police.

"The problem, of course, is that speed cameras, whatever their benefits, cannot actually levy fines.

"So you would need some form of physical police presence on the road."