July 20, 2006
Bosses to face fines for staff caught chatting on phone in car
Firms could be prosecuted for allowing employees to use hand-held mobile phones while driving in the latest crackdown on motorists, reports UK's Daily Mail.
"Under the scheme, an employee stopped for using a hand-held phone while driving will first receive the usual £30 fine. They will then be warned that their employer will receive an official police visit.
Within a few days, a uniformed officer will call at the firm's headquarters for a meeting with a company director, asking about its risk management strategy and what it intends to do to curb illegal driving.
Depending on the seriousness of the offence, unlimited fines can be imposed on individual managers and the company in the crown court, while there is a ceiling of £20,000 in magistrates courts.
Firms that refuse to co-operate may be issued with an 'improvement notice' compelling them to take action. Companies that still refuse to cooperate could be prosecuted.
The scheme, which is being tested in London but could be extended nationwide, is intended to provoke firms into action by embarrassing them. The move comes after it emerged that four in ten motorists are still breaking mobile phone laws."
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