Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 616-2023
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 21st June 2023 as follows:
I would like to submit a Freedom of Information request to access the following information please:
Q1. How many motorists were caught for travelling with children illegally without a child car seat in 2022 and 2023 year to date?
Including a month-by-month breakdown
Q2. How many motorists were caught driving without the correct child car seat in 2022 and 2023 year to date?
Including a month-by-month breakdown
Q3. How much were the total fines issued to motorists driving with children illegally without a child car seat in 2022 and 2023 year to date?
Including a month-by-month breakdown
Q4. How much were the total fines issued to motorists driving without the correct child car seat in 2022 and 2023 year to date?
Including a month-by-month breakdown
In addition, please provide responses for both questions broken down by:
How many drivers were given points on their license for the above offences throughout this period
Region of license holder's registered address when points were incurred
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Response: Please be advised that the requested information is not centrally recorded and is therefore not held in a readily retrievable format. There is no specific offence for children who are travelling illegally without a car seat or without the correct car seat. Please see below the offences that are used in such circumstances:
In order to provide a response to this request, it would be necessary to retrieve all notices issued under the above offences and manually review each officer statement to determine firstly, whether any RT88520 offences related to a child or children travelling illegally without a car seat or without the correct car seat and secondly, whether any RT88515 offences related to children in booster seats, or children just sitting in the rear of a vehicle. The business area has advised that there has been a total of 55 notices issued for these two offences for the specified period. At a conservative estimate of at least 20 minutes per notice to review, this would equate to in excess of 18 hours of work, which does not take into account time already spent locating the initial figures. Therefore, the work involved in locating, retrieving and recording the information requested exceeds the cost threshold (£450), which equates to 18 hours work at a standard rate of £25 per hour, as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.
In accordance with section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a Refusal Notice for this request.
In accordance with Section 16 of the Act, I have a duty to provide advice and assistance. I can advise that it may be possible to provide some information if the scope of the request were reduced to 12 months. In addition, please be advised that fines are collected by the Fixed Penalty Officer, HMCTS. If a driver elects a Court hearing, as opposed to complying with the conditional offer, the magistrates can impose a lower or higher fine, depending on circumstances. If an individual pleads not guilty and the case is listed for trial, again the fines may differ if they are then found guilty. In addition, if the driver defaults, then enforcement is carried out by HMCTS, and fines may then increase from the original amount imposed. Therefore, it is not possible for the force to provide a response to Q3 and Q4.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB