Skip to main content

UK councils to get power to enforce moving traffic offences

Local authorities in the UK are set to get the power to fine motorists for moving traffic offences. Control over the issuing of fines is set to move from the police, to local councils, should the proposals be approved next year. Currently, London boroughs are able to fine motorists for similar offences, while councils outside of London can only fine motorists over parking violations or for driving in bus lanes. However under the new plans, councils across the country will gain the power to issue fines fo
December 21, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Local authorities in the UK are set to get the power to fine motorists for moving traffic offences. Control over the issuing of fines is set to move from the police, to local councils, should the proposals be approved next year.

Currently, London boroughs are able to fine motorists for similar offences, while councils outside of London can only fine motorists over parking violations or for driving in bus lanes. However under the new plans, councils across the country will gain the power to issue fines for moving traffic offences.

According to the Daily Mail, the fines could provide councils with a significant rise in income, with a single yellow box junction camera in Fulham pocketing £12million over seven years, for example. A box junction in Hackney is the second biggest earner, raising £1.2million in fines in the last 18 months, while the Berkeley Street junction in Piccadilly saw £816,000 worth of PCNs issued in the same period.

AA president Edmund King told The Sun: “The real problem is that once local authorities get the powers and start pulling the cash, they get addicted. They get dependent on the cash and even when flaws in their traffic management are revealed they have no desire to change it as the cash will dry up.”

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at comparison website confused.com said, “If councils are permitted to use cameras to fine people for box junction offences, they should concentrate on investing the money raised into improving congestion flow and management, ultimately saving motorists money.”

Related Content

  • Russia 2018 World Cup: ITS can win it
    June 5, 2018
    Teams and supporters will cover vast distances in Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Stephane Clauss from Sony Europe’s Image Sensing Solutions division examines how the latest camera technologies can be deployed to help things run smoothly over the next month or so... For one month, from June 14, Russia is hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This is the largest country in the world and the distances between venues will be larger than at almost any other World Cup - bar the finals in the US and Brazil.
  • Two wheels good
    June 25, 2018
    As cycling becomes an increasingly popular method for commuting and recreation, what moves are afoot to keep the growing numbers of cyclists safe on ever-more-busy roads? Alan Dron puts on his helmet and pedals off to look. It would have seemed incredible just a decade ago, but cycling in London has become almost unfeasibly popular. The Transport for London (TfL) June 2017 Strategic Cycling Analysis document noted there were now 670,000 cycle trips a day in the UK capital, an increase of 130% since 2000.
  • Maturing photo enforcement gains legal status, public support
    August 2, 2012
    In the US, affirmation of the photo traffic enforcement sector's legal status and rising public support were significant aspects of 2009. James Tuton, President and CEO of American Traffic Solutions, looks back over the year. In 2009, the photo traffic enforcement industry in North America continued to grow and mature, accompanied by increased public, legislative and legal scrutiny. While public support remains strong, we also saw increased attempts to undermine the industry by representatives of a small bu
  • TTF confirms traffic signal funding recipients
    August 25, 2021
    TTF found traffic signals with faulty detectors and equipment