Three new driving laws that will come into force in April – don’t be caught out

DRIVERS have been warned about trio of new road laws coming into force this month.

The changes include modifications to vehicle taxes and even hefty fines for some motorists if they don’t stay up to date with the rules – here’s what you need to know.

1

EV ‘overstay’ charges

Owners of electric vehicles (EVs) could see themselves slapped with hefty fines under rules designed to stop them hogging much needed charging points.

If you leave your vehicle at one port for too long, you could face a charge of up to £30, depending on where you live.

Glasgow City Council has already imposed that fee, while other local authorities are bringing in ‘overstay’ charges of £20, according to The Mirror.

Popular EV manufacturer Tesla also includes an ‘idle fee’, with drivers charged 50p per minute if they overstay their time slot.

This rises to £1 per minute if the station has no other spaces remaining.

Tax rates

New vehicle tax rates came into force on April 1, with costs increasing for almost all vehicles.

Newly registered vehicles will face charges of up to £2,605 for more polluting petrol and diesel models, up £240 from last year.

Owners of the least polluting will pay just £30, up from £25.

Meanwhile, vehicles registered between March 2001 and April 2017 will see high polluting vehicles pay £695 up front or £729.75 in monthly instalments, up from £630 and £661.50 respectively.

The exception to this is EVs, which are still exempt from vehicle tax until 2025

Council powers

Some local authorities will gain new powers in the spring to issue fines for “moving traffic offences”.

Such offences include driving in a bus lane or illegal U-turns.

Residents of Reading and Hampshire are set to see their councils empowered to give out fines from £20 up to £150, though the latter will mainly be reserved as punishment for non-payment of existing fines.