A motoring lawyer said the rules surrounding fines issued to those who fail to pay Dartford Crossing fees are “grossly unfair” and must be brought in line with the law for speeding offences.
The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 said vehicle owners must be informed within 14 days of an alleged speeding offence. However, Dart Charge users have told the BBC they had received penalty notices for unpaid crossings months after their journeys took place.
National Highways said all fines were now being issued within a fortnight of the alleged contraventions taking place.
Nick Freeman, a lawyer popularly known as Mr Loophole, said the situation was “crying out for legal change”. Mr Freeman, who specialises in road traffic law, said drivers “need to be told at an early stage” so they can keep the necessary evidence to challenge fines they deem unfair.
He said that since the enforcement of most road offences was done using camera technology, “the whole process is automated, there’s no human contact” meaning there was “no excuse” for delays in issuing penalty notices.
A BBC investigation has previously revealed Dart Charge users had experienced problems with their accounts following a change in system operator in July 2023. It meant payments for crossings were not made on time which caused a rise in fines issued.
For many, penalty notices did also not arrive until four, five or even six months after the crossing was made. As a result, many were unaware of problems with their accounts.
