Motorists are being warned of sweeping new road rules introduced by Labour that could result in drivers being fined for speeding offences years after they have occurred.
Labour unveiled the Road Safety Strategy earlier this week in the first significant update to motoring rules in more than a decade.
Proposals include lowering the drink-drive limit, introducing a minimum learning period of three or six months for learner drivers and mandatory eyesight tests for elderly motorists.
While the measures have been met with support from road safety campaigners, some experts have warned that it could result in motorists being slapped with fines.
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One of the consultations launched looks at changing current motoring offences and aims to receive feedback on the potential introduction of other offences.
As part of these plans, Labour is looking to remove the statutory time limit (STL) of six months for offences detected by speed or red-light cameras.
Current laws state that cases must be brought before a magistrates' court within six months of the offence, which can include speeding contraventions.
The consultation states that the six-month period is "open to abuse", with "delaying tactics" used to help offenders avoid justice.
Drivers are being warned that they could be hit with fines years after a speeding offence has been committed under new plans
|PA
The statutory time limit currently includes the period when the registered keeper provides details to the authorities of who was driving the vehicle at the time of the offence.
Changes proposed by the Government would result in the time period being changed to six months from when the details of the driver are provided to the authorities.
Motoring expert Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole for his legal tactics to help clients avoid road traffic offences, has warned that this change could result in drivers being fined years after committing the offence.
Mr Freeman stated that if a driver contests a fine, they could be forced to wait 18 months for a magistrates' hearing as a result of court backlogs.
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'Mr Loophole' Nick Freeman has slammed the proposed driving law change
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Speaking to The Telegraph, he described the Government's plan as a "lame excuse to cover for their own inefficiencies".
He continued, saying: "The purpose of this legislation is so that people can genuinely remember who was driving the vehicle, but the problem is, the authorities are not efficient. They need to get their act together.
"We don't want people to be prosecuted for a red light offence three years later."
He added that any changes to the current rules would further slow down legal cases, resulting in victims having to wait longer for justice.
Mr Loophole has successfully defended many celebrities from road offences, including footballers David Beckham and Joe Cole, TV presenter Paddy McGuinness and singer Ian Brown.
Drivers can be hit with a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence if they are caught speeding, with motorists being disqualified from driving if they accumulate 12 points in three years.
The fine can be increased depending on the speed limit and the speed of the vehicle, which can be up to £1,000 or £2,500 if it was on the motorway.
Newly qualified drivers can be stripped of their licence if they collect six or more penalty points in the first two years of being behind the wheel.