The only reason I haven't responded thus far is that this simply regularises what already happens in practice.
Already the CAA investigates and prosecutes alleged offenders, intimidating them into pleading guilty by pointing out the life changing financial consequences of contesting the case.
When a case
is contested, the whole process is massively weighted in the CAA's favour, in that they can pursue the case with practically unlimited funds, supply the most 'credible' expert witnesses from their own staff, and when they inevitably win, advise the hapless Magistrates of a suitable penalty.
Then, on top of that, have the Magistrates present the looser with a whacking bill to cover the entire absurd cost of the prosecution.
Hardly any point in the Magistrates being there at all.
This new proposal just gives the CAA carte blanche to normalise the practice, and spread it across a whole new range of more trivial cases
of their choosing or creation, thereby creating a lucrative new revenue stream for themselves.
If it were possible for the CAA to sink
even lower in the eyes of the aviation community, this would do it.
MJ
