Schools Introduce $120 Fine For Parents Who Drop Kids Off Late

Every parent knows that getting a child to school – or anywhere – on time is a mission. And now’s there’s some extra pressure thrown in for fun…

Parents of children who arrive to school late could be slapped with a $120 fine that will double to $240 if it isn’t paid within 21 days. And if you refuse to pay, you could face a prison sentence.

The controversial new fining scheme, dubbed ‘late-gate patrol’, has already got the go-ahead at 500 schools in Hampshire and will come into effect in September.

It has also got the green light in Southend in Essex where Anne Jones, the area’s Children’s Councillor, says it’s the only option.

“We do not want to be prosecuting parents but we also want children to be in school and there comes a time when we have no further options,” she says.

One Southend parent, who was questioned by a council offer when her child was late, said, “Mornings get hectic. I could get up at 4.30am but still be late because right before we leave one of the kids will need the toilet.”

The fines won’t be the same everywhere – each council can make its own tweaks and it’s not yet clear what time length being ‘late’ is.

In Islington, North London, parents may face a fine if their child misses registration 12 times within six weeks.

In Hampshire, the new council guidelines state that the child has 10 late passes before the fines start coming – meaning that odd crazed morning where nothing seems to be going right and you leave the house 10 minutes late won’t result in a penalty. Phew.

The guidelines are similar in Wales, where the fines will apply for any child late for at least 10 sessions per half term.

In Islington, a council spokesperson says being late could ‘compromise everyone’s learning’ and cause ‘social disruption’ among the students.

But whatever the benefits to the children, we hazard a guess that some parents won’t be happy with the new financial penalties.

Campaigners have cautioned against the excessive use of fines and Margaret Morrissey, of Parents Outloud, warns that some children could lose out because £60 is a lot of money to poorer families.

- Image: Getty