Another fine mess
Sir: The fine for smoking on a London Transport bus is now £1,000.
Under the sentencing guidelines issued recently, you can do the following (provid- ed you are not in an upper-income group): television licence evasion (black and white), £20; drunk and disorderly, £20; speeding, 30 m.p.h. over the limit, £28, obstructing a It wouldn't be ethical for me to openly take a 50 per cent increase in salary. I'm therefore having w take it under the table.' police officer, £32; theft from a vehicle, £60; cultivation of cannabis, £60; drunk driving, twice the limit, £72; burglary (non- dwelling), £80; assault on a police officer, £100; burglary (dwelling), £120; possession of class A drugs (e.g. cocaine), £120; grievous bodily harm, £160. The total comes to £872.
I suppose some idiots might still regard it as worthwhile to light up on a bus. I think most people would reckon that the above was a jolly good bargain and they now have £128 to dispose of. At the moment they are basically restricted to assaulting a police officer and speeding (30 m.p.h. over the limit), which would result in a total fine of £128. Is it beyond the ingenuity of man to devise a fine for something rather more worthwhile which would equally come to £128? The murder of Virginia Bottomley immediately springs to mind.
Avril Munson
17 River Avenue, Hoddesdon, Herts
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