“Decriminalisation”: a pernicious hypocrisy?

Reviews examples of the decriminalisation of road traffic law infringements, and the replacement of criminal fines with civil penalty charges, including: (1) the excess charge for overstaying in a metered parking area introduced by the Road Traffic Act 1956; (2) wheel-clamping by the police under the Transport Act 1982; and (3) the decriminalisation of certain parking offences by the Road Traffic Act 1991. Considers the extent to which such decriminalisation undermines offenders' rights to due process and a fair trial. © 2011 Sweet & Maxwel