POLICE forces across the county are to set up dedicated traffic offence courts – after the scheme was piloted successfully in Notts.
The county is one of nine that trialled the Ministry Of Justice initiative which aims to help courts reduce delays and focus more on serious and contested cases.
Around half-a-million low-level traffic offences – including speeding, traffic light and document offences – go through England's courts every year.
There is currently an average of a six-month waiting period between the offence being committed and completion.
Notts chief constable Chris Eyre was part of a group set up to look at the problem.
He said: "We have implemented this new procedure to traffic cases with great success in nine police forces, radically simplifying and speeding up the process.
"This is only implemented when there is a guilty plea or where the case against a defendant is not contested.
"Effective first hearings have significantly reduced the amount of adjournments and a single court can deal with up to 160 cases a day."
The new initiative is now being rolled out across the county, with all police forces being encouraged to have a court dedicated to low-level traffic offences.
Senior members of the judiciary are currently in discussions with the Government about how the ambition can be achieved.
A court room which solely deals with traffic offences has been running at Nottingham Magistrates' Court since the pilot started in August 2012.
Justice Minister Damian Green said the current delay was unacceptable.
"Enforcing traffic laws is hugely important for road safety, and saving lives," he said. "However these cases take nearly six months on average from offence to completion, despite the fact that over 90 per cent of cases result in a guilty plea.
"The justice system must respond more quickly and effectively to the needs of victims, witnesses and local communities and these dedicated courts will enable magistrates to better organise their work and drive greater efficiency."
