Is a £2500 fine and 2 years in jail the correct penalty for not having a bell fitted to your bicycle?

Question

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/opinion/viewarticle.aspx?id=411711

Welcome to Blair's Britain!

Scream For Me: I know sharks have very small brains, but did it ever occur to you that I DID post this on http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/ and it just automatically gets cross-posted to the US Answers site?

quierounvaquero: OK then, read what your beloved Guardian has to say!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1871017,00.html

Answer 1

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

It's normally "up to" that amount. You can get life for killing someone but you can get away with 6 months. So, in answer to your question - yes, I think it is. Cyclists disregard most traffic laws, and it's a good way of getting people to tow the line. If you make the punishment severe enough, then it might just work as the deterrent it's meant to be. Why should it be any less? Laws aren't there to be broken - they're to be adhered to. If the penalty is too lenient, who's going to comply with the law the penalty relates to?

Answer 3

Seems a little stiff, however, I can relate as I live in New York City and have to constantly be on the lookout for delivery guys riding on the sidewalk, whizzing around corners, riding the wrong way on one way streets as well as the dreaded bike messengers running red lights at 40 MPH.

Answer 4

Jail is probably a bit harsh, but making it a legal requirement to have a bell is absolutely fair - it's a legal requirement for car drivers to have a horn and lights on their car and they'd face fines if they knowingly drove without them. If bike riders want to use the road as well, they should follow the safety rules accordingly.

Answer 5

this is pathetic, i remember when they tried to get everyone wearing cycle helmets whilst cycling, that didnt last long, i think the prisons are going to be full of so call criminals who haven't put a bell on their bike and the real criminals will be allowed to walk the streets as no room for them in prison.
it wasn't that long ago they was moaning that there wasn't enough room in prisons anyway!
where will the money from the fines be spent too? hmmm not on the NHS or schools i bet. (sounds like someones going to be flying 1st class on their next holiday)

Answer 6

yes but you have to also go on a bicycle bell awareness course if you want to ride your bike again! I've just got out on parole after a 4 stretch for not taking my library books back on time! There's a shoot to kill policy on me now if I am spotted within a 1 mile radius of any city library!

Answer 7

No, it's not appropriate. You should be shot and this would cure the problem of cyclists on our roads.
Next you should invoke the death penalty for using a mobile phone whilst driving and that would reduce congestion and carbon emissions at a stroke.

Answer 8

No. However if you look at sentences in the UK you are better of attacking someone leaving them for dead. Then stealing their money buying crack and stealing a car then knock someone down. £ 150 fine and 100 hours community service.

Answer 9

no it's not fair. there are more important things the plice should be doing instead of having to enforce stupid bullsh*t laws like this. but all cyclists should have insurance in case you hit some1 while riding full speed along the pavement at nite with no f**kin lights on.

Answer 10

This is the American site, stupid. Try posting your question at http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/ And put some bells on your bicycle.

Answer 11

It best not be because I have never had a bell!!
If it's £2500 for not having a bell then I dread to think what the fine is for not wearing a crash helmet or having lights!!!!!