Local councils, strapped for cash, are seeking new ways to generate money – by slapping fines on motorists for minor offences. West Midlands mayor, Andy Street, has written to the government to change regulations and give local authorities the power to fine drivers for a range of minor offences, currently in the hands of the police outside London.
Costly mistakes
Councils want to be able to punish drivers for violations that include stopping in box junctions, illegal U-turns and stopping in cycle boxes at traffic lights. Those in favour say that councils are better equipped to find and track down offenders, and then collect the fines, rather than placing the burden on the police, who are facing a shortage of road police officers at the moment.
However, campaigners are concerned that local authorities are merely trying to squeeze more money out of drivers to deal with the problems they are having with their budgets. Currently, everywhere apart from London and Cardiff see ‘moving traffic restrictions’ handled by the police except for bus lanes. The Local Government Association (LGA) and the West Midlands mayor are among those campaigning for a change and broader powers.
Increasing income
The LGA wants to see more cameras at box junctions, junctions, and cycle lanes to create revenue that would go back into the road network. They also say they are losing money due to cuts in road traffic officer numbers, meaning people are getting away with more than they did before.
The AA has raised concerns that councils would issue penalties to raise cash to fill holes in their budgets. They described the record of enforcement for some councils as ‘atrocious’ including the use of signs and road markings mean that drivers are often penalised for being in the wrong position due to a lack of understanding of the road layout. An example came from Preston where bus lane restrictions were re-enforced and generated £115,000 in fines in a single week.
Police powers
Roads minister, Mr Jesse Norman, confirmed that Parliament had received a written question from the LGA, which represents some 18 local authorities and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The letter called for powers for councils, under the Traffic Management Act 2004, based on the efforts to ‘manage traffic contraventions and reduce congestion’ with authorities also raising the issue at regular engagement meetings.
However, Mr Norman rejected the pleas, saying that the necessary powers to act where needed were already in place and that the government had no plans to change the legislation. LGA spokesman, Martin Tett, said that the organisation would continue to press for reform claiming that it would allow councils to ‘tackle impatient drivers who break the law and put others at risk’ with the aim of shaving seconds off their journey.
Christmas gloom
An example of councils making income from drivers committing minor infringements came about on Christmas Day – the one day of the year when public transport does not run, and many drivers think it is okay to use bus lanes.
Sheffield was one of the worst with 141 drivers receiving a fine of £30 which increased to £60 if they did not pay it within 14 days. Leicester City Council fined another 46 motorists for using a single stretch of a bus lane.
Perhaps the worst story was Lee Williamson who pulled over to give some clothes and food to a homeless man on Christmas Day – and received a £70 fine from the council for his charity. The penalty has since been revoked after a huge public outcry.
Surprisingly expensive
If the LGA do get their way, the cost of such errors can be extortionate for drivers. For example, stopping in a yellow box if you are not turning right, can cost you £70 outside London and up to £130 within the capital. A bus lane infringement can cost you up to £90, if you do not pay within 28 days of receiving the notice, meaning drivers could be seeing more and more letters coming through the door demanding money if the LGA get their way.
Overall, drivers in Britian probably get away with a fair few minor motoring offences
Do you think that the LGA should be dealing with minor motoring offences? What side do you stand on? Let us know in the comments below
I believe that the Councils have historically been extortionate in their handling of matters where money is concerned. Yes, drivers should adhere to the rules but the punishment should fit the crime but rarely do you find fairness when it comes to money raising and the motorist!
Sadly, councils are being severely squeezed by the current government in the false name of austerity. They may well be in a better position than the police to facilitate traffic flow by means of financial penalties: they have more freedom to hire staff and to put up cameras. However, I believe this should be done on a graded basis with small fines for first or infrequent incursions and rising for more frequent ones. This would have the desired effect with drivers without creating anger and disrespect for the council.
The effects of the cuts is to force councils to cut back on essential services and try to scrape for income wherever they can. It creates a false regressive tax sting, rather than proportionally taxing those who are most able to afford it: those with massive income or wealth!
No , because Council paper trail is so useless , and the fines are sent to wrong addresses and somehow enforcement has the right address and by the time someone finds they had a penalty charge is too late or distress for them to act on
The council are useless when dealing with penalties , I think by giving the Council more power will distress the public
I think we are paying enough Council taxes , Dustin collection , etc
The Council should be able to sort they expenses via the budget they have , which I believe is more than enough
No more power to the Council
Thanks
It’s the central government that gave the local government more powers to rule their council controlled areas. Therefore councils do what they like to enforce local rules in extracting more money form the society members.
If they want more powers fine jay walkers who stop traffic from moving forward or give permission to drivers to run them over.
Are they also going to start fining cyclists who ride at night with no lights? Or who continue to ride on the road when the pavement is half pedestrian/half cycle path? No. Yet again, the motorist is an easy target.
Completely agree re riding at night with no lights. It’s really dumb. However a cycle path is a lane which motor vehicles aren’t allowed into, not ones which cyclists are required to use, i.e. similar situation to bus lanes. Quite often cycle paths on pavements are utterly unusable. We have one in Poole that has trees growing in it, a bus shelter taking it up completely and tree roots have made it completely unusable safely. For info, where the line between the main lane and the cycle lane is dashed, a motorist may use it (e.g. to undertake a vehicle turning right). Where it is solid, the motorist may not use it.
Maybe they could fine idiot drivers who forget to turn their lights on in the dark too ? And when it’s torrential rain.
There’s no way I’m cycling at night without lights. I value my life too much.
If a cyclepath is suitable I’ll use it – but most are not fit for purpose. Using a cyclepathi is not compulsory.
As for easy target – just don’t break any rules and there’s no fines ? I’ve managed ok for 32 years like this so far.
Lorrie: I would be surprised if it is an offence to ride a pedal cycle on a road where there is no sign to forbid doing so simply because there is a designated cycle path running parallel to the road. I agree it may seem a weird choice to ride on the road in those circumstances but so far as I am aware it is not illegal.
https://mpora.com/road-cycling/worst-cycle-lanes-ever-grace-the-earth-1#3cW2zAdr4W6HiDAU.97
Andy_P : I clicked on your suggested link. Thank you for providing a good laugh. I am a keen cyclist as I suspect you are and, without the evidence shown in the link, would hardly believe the stupidity of the situations displayed there.
Perhaps they should fine cyclists for having no lights in the daytime. Would raise far more money!
Lorrie,
Do motorists get fined for headlight not working, unfortunately it appears an increasing number of vehicle are in the one light category
Silly man, that was a motorcycle……..wasn’t it?
Tell me. Is some form of lighting mandatory on a bicycle? The other night I almost, ALMOST MIND YOU, ran completely over an idiot dressed in black riding a cycle with no lights on his cycle. If I had run over him who would have been to blame, him or me? I must point out that this was on a lane with no street illumination.
Crazy rip off Briton
Public transport is not up to the job and expensive
People rely on there cars for work and family days
Any money raised will not go back into roads and road networks
Just another scam to fleece the British motorist
I agree with dug but themore mone they get will goin to finding ways to make more money out of motorists etc ,the cyclist dont get find for cycling on a full pedestrian payment whichis wrong as they get away with cycling trew red lights & more
Mark,
Car and other vehicle drivers also go through red lights, not just cyclists. No-one should but they do, with the resulting outcome of injury/damage all too often
Use the camera to nail the offender and report or shaame in the press or on the web.
I regret that local councils have already shown they cannot be trusted when it comes to finances. They break their promises in order to extract more money from rate payers, and they demonstrate ineptness in managing money and resources. Giving them more powers to fine motorists will only lead to more misery for those who would become victims of the ‘money making scheme’
No way!! The little town hall god’s would fine you for looking the wrong way!!As for cameras who would pay for them? Or,would they get parking wardens to police it? We all know how “enthusiastic” they can be.
How unusual to come up with ideas to fleece motorists! It doesn’t matter that mindless morons are stealing cars that honest hard working people have strived to buy, causing extremely costly damage to public and private property, only to walk away with little more than a slap on the wrist and grinning their way to show off to their mates.Money should be taken from people that commit crimes with no regrets whatsoever, and have absolutely no respect for the police or anyone else! Wait a minute though, its far easier to squeeze more from the beleaguered motorists isn’t it?
If the law was changed to allow it, I would happily inflict without remorse great pain and suffering on those who campaign for changes such as these. They are awful people employed by a beaurocracy and would most certainly have been removed from the gene pool long ago if we’d let natural selection take its course instead of supporting them with made up jobs in local government paid for by hard working tax payers.
Just a thought, could drivers fine local councils who do not maintain the roads? Everywhere you drive there are potholes, & the number of road junctions that are completely devoid of any road markings is unfathomable.
If your going to make a comment make one that’s constructive
If you’re going to add instructions, please use correct grammar!
Not liking something doesn’t make it nonconstructive.
Oh bogoff, this isn’t austerity, it’s the singular lack of competant people running the budgets. Not to mention the fact that the cops decided to do away with a lot of their traffic branches anyway when camera technology was brought in. Tory austerity, my a***.
The only a*** here seems to be you!
Or maybe it’s you! Valid points, it’s too easy to just keep blaming Tory austerity
Roger, Why don’t you try talking out of your mouth as your arse seems to be doing all the talking.
A firmly socialist council imposed a fine on a guy stopping in a bus lane to assist a rough sleeper on Christmas day. No buses run on that day but a great opportunity for a fine . Many of the fines are generated by socialist councils who are as wasteful of funds as any other council. Motorists are a soft target for all parties.
Think you wilkl find it was a contractor like many councils have to use as gov wants out sourced they just whack anything touching kerb ticket!
He stopped to let his daughter off initially
Will the council dip into their pockets when you damage your vehicle because of a pothole? (potditches in the Glasgow area).
Yes you can get compensation if you push the hard enough ,get some photos and witnesses and go for them, claim in the small claims court if they refuse to play ball
I think you should take a photo of the pothole, take a photo of your damaged wheel and take the council to the small claims court and sue them for negligence for not maintianing the roads. We pay council tax and road tax. Where does this money go to?
The money goes to six-figure salaries & gigantic pensions for the directors of social work and the like; including the self-styled “chief executive” (actually a glorified town clerk) who demands pay comensurate with a real executive taking personal responsibility & risk, despite merely implementing the policy decided by others without taking on any personal risk. Plus of course the tens of millions spent on translating all documents into romanian, hindi, punjabi, polish, urdu, etc, etc.
My daughter lost her two alloys with a pothole she got info from the council under the freedom of info act and found it had been reported and not fixed so she claimed and got her money for two new wheels it’s not easy but that’s what they rely on people being too lazy to go though it all.
Yes usually but you have to claim with photos. They work put that this is cheaper than the repair.
and then you’ll get fined for stopping to take the photos.
You can’t blame the Tories for everything !!
Yeah, you’re right. Only most things.
I was one of the Leicester bus lane ‘victims’. I crossed into the bus lane because the lane to turn left was full and I would have delayed the traffic in the outside lane.
After over 45yrs of driving my driving ‘faults’ are this and an insurance scam.
Some of the potholes have now become sinkholes.
Around here, some mini roundabouts have gone missing! Some have been replaced by potholes.
If they used the tarmac set aside for speed bumps to fill in potholes then maybe we would have normal roads again.
The speed bumps also damage the road on the opposite side and add to road noise.
Austerity started when the last Labour government waved a paper at the Tories and said with a smile that there’s no money left and it will happen again if they ever get in.
that was actually false news!!!
And after 10 years there is still no money in the pot. At least with Labour we knew they used it to bail the Banks out. With this lot we are taking cuts to the bone and they still can not tell us where the money is going. !!
Aye, but told the banks they could do what they like.
It’s going abroad as ‘charity’ but ends up in the pockets of thieving government dogs.
Actually Labour added to the debt with PPP deals. About £350 billion I think. At one point we were paying £1 billion a week just in interest payments.
Exactly. When local authorities can fulfill their current responsibilities exactly and efficiently, that’s the time to consider extending that remit. Shortage of money? Really? just look around the (free) staff car parks to see what sort of vehicles people with ‘non jobs’ can afford.
TRUE , Mark, and don’t forget the extortionist Hospital Parking Charges. DREADFUL…OUTRAGOUS
As you never know if there will be a delay for hospital appointments, I’ve just paid £6.40 for three hours parking at the local hospital. No waiting time so in and out in less than an hour. The system should be more flexible. ANPR will soon pick you up if you don’t pay so why can’t they use the same technology to charge only for time used when paying using smart phone app?
I don’t have smart phone!
a fantastic idea because we pay so why shouldn`t they? and they are not doing what they are getting paid for this means they are getting money under false pretences, this is a crime??
Austerity started when Gordon one eye Brown raided the Old Age Pension Pot to supliment there coffers due to there lack of how to run a P–s up in a brewery. But the ar–holes new how to put money into there own pockets.
We have many round here where the lanes are pot luck chance on direction two becomes?
There’s always one who pipes up with this crap. All political parties are as bad as each other.
Aye, the ‘friends’ of Corbyn.
If it damages your car you can sue them, but they will fight you every step of the way as a matter of policy regardless how strong your case is
Which is a further waste of taxpayers money.
As I understand it, once the council has been informed about a pothole, they have seven days in which to repair it, if they fail to do so within that time frame, you can claim for any damage to your vehicle that occurs due to the pothole.
Yet if you vote Labour you get ASBOs and PSPOs which are hugely bureaucratic without actually punishing anyone. It must be soul-destroying for the Police to have these inflicted on them.
A few years ago I received a penalty tkt for allegedly making an illegal right turn in a ATC junction, in London,150 miles from home. The photograph accompanying the docs was a poor quality but still obviously TWO characters different from my car. I also provided proof of my location at the time ( work, near home. ) The council cancelled my ticket saying that the correct offender’s vrm was ???? which was still one character wrong! Incompetent cretins.
WMCA [West Midlands Combined Authority] are morally corrupt – their role – with OUR money – is to provide the relevant services of a L/A – NOT to try and take over over Enforcement Agencies’ roles PURELY as a high income Revenue Stream. Stop penalisig your residents and lobby Central Government instead!! They’re cutting your budget in the name of austerity. However, in terms of accountability, the balance of payments ISN’T reducing with their retained monies – NOR do we don’t see any improvements locally with the excessive Adult Social Care monies you’re forcing us to pay! Those on a pension have a FIXED CPI % rise each year – but are forced to pay out so much more than that in Council Tax alone (let alone other increases) – 4.9% again this year – is crippling many – YES, they are making a choice between heating and eating!
Very very true here here.
Here, here! There is only one authority entitled to fine members of the public, and that is the police in combination with the courts. We already have cowboy parking companies, who are basically petty crooks exploiting a gap in the legislation. Do local authorities want to be tarred with the same brush?
I wouldn’t be surprised if Councils create even more restrictions (traps) and then reap the fines reward.
Goes without saying – someone has to fund City Hall pensions.
Box junctions can be dangerous. Many times I have waited for an exit to from a box junction to clear and when clear and starting to move forward find a vehicle turning right against my path. They have, presumably, assumed I was waiting for them! I have the right of way and then am forced to stop on a box junction. I could be faced with a fine or an accident!
Yes that’s very true if you wait at the box junction people do jump in front to turn right which in turn makes you having to stop in the box it’s happened to us a lot
Before any council is allowed to increase it s powers over motorists , it should have to publish the salaries of all the councillors , and their expenses and be forced to justify them in publc meetings with their constituents. No councillor should take more than £60,000 per annum. Any “jollies ” should be financed from their own pockets unless there is a compelling reason which justifies them to the benefit of the borough, and even then strict restrictions must apply. Any councillor being paid more than £60.000 per annum should have their salaries trimmed immediately , and made to justify the remainder.
I believe that councillors should see their office as a public duty ,, and not as a sinecure and source of income.
Totally agree with this. Too many pockets being lined at public expense and motorists are always a soft target.
John,
Could say the same about private companies, who pay people those amounts and make profit without conscience
As we have found with parking, councils use the motorist as a ‘cash cow’ As motorist have found there are already strategically placed ‘yellow box junctions’ in London where ii is sometimes impossible not to get caught. Merton Council have such a junction a mere 15 metres (possibly less) from a Pelican crossing. If, as I did, you have a long vehicle in front and lights change it is impossible not to have part of car overlapping box. This box together with one other produces more revenue for Merton than all its other boxes combined! We can guess what will happen in councils nationwide get agreement to also deal with box infringements.
I think it it totally outrageous to even THINK let alone give these powers to local councils. I cannot think of one in the country which is well run, efficient and honest who could be safely trusted. Their objective would not to be to improve road safety but to rob motorists cyclists pedestrians. Their motto seems to be if it moves fine it, if it stops fine it. If it breathes fine it. Its about time these grossly overpaid top council officials who are systematically fleecing council tax payers were taken to task instead of being allowed to get away with even more money grabbing wheezes. Local councils used to be that LOCAL. Looking after local issues and being held accountable when things didn’t work Now with thes mega councils, democracy doesn’t hardly exist, they build themselves fancy offices (e.g. Northhants) pay themself themselves excessive salaries, pensions, waste money on useless council (Woking Surrey spent 4m on a so called eco friendly but useless canopy that has just been torn down after only a few years use) yet cry out they are short of money. NO DEFINITELY NOT!
I’m a driver of more than 40years and the standard of driving is getting worse the point of being fined if you’ve done something wrong so yes the LGA should be able to fine drivers and cyclist if they’re in the wrong at least that way the money will go back into the local area,drive properly and this will not effect you.
Ho here we go !!! Change your name to saint Joe . .Mr perfect I’ve never done anything wrong. .
Instead of berating “saint Joe” consider that even if he did something wrong, perhaps thru momentary lack of concentration, he might expect to pay for it. It could happen to the best of us but it just might make us better and safer drivers. Standards need to improve.
Steve; Joe did not claim to have never done anything wrong in the context of motoring or anything else. I have a similar sentiment to him and an even longer time of driving experience. I have made a few, although very few, driving mistakes in about 0.7 million miles the only one of which involving a penalty was driving at 35 mph in a 30 mph zone and none which caused an accident or insurance claim. My bet is that Joe might claim a similar record.
If and yes it is a big If we all drove to the law what do we have to fear.
My pet hate the 4 out of 5 drivers that refuse to use bus lanes (in the hours that one can) and then feel they have precedence to pull into the inside lane immediately at the end because by now they are in the wrong lane to go forward.
I am one of the people they want off the roads because I am 90 but I still know how to drive in a considerate and correct manner not being an inconvenience to other road users or pedestrians.
Box junctions can be dangerous. Several times I have waited for the exit from a box junction to become clear and to proceed when it clears to find a vehicle turning right across my front. The driver, presumably I thought I was waiting for him / her. I am faced with either a collision or a fine for stopping in a box junction.
Try fining cyclisst who drive through red lights, ride on the pavments and have no mirrors on their bikes and ride without lights in the dark. Ride 3 abreast on major roads at 10mph. These are the only road users who pay no road tax, hardly ever look behind when overtaking and cause numerous accidents. They would make a fortune if they booked parking on double yellow lines which the police are not interested in. Parking on blind bends, every week I almost have head on collisions with this type of parking, there’s money to be made but where are the boys in blue who never see these accidents waiting to happen.
1. Cars jump red lights too – surely they could have traffic cameras on them and reap the rewards and keep things safer.
2. Bikes don’t need mirrors on – so why are we fining them.
3. Bikes can ride 2 abreast on roads – if you see three – then you’re probably looking at the guys in front or behind – the perspective is deceiving.
4. Road tax doesn’t exist. Look at electric cars – they pay no Vehicle Excise Duty as they don’t emit pollution.
5. Statistics show that motorists cause far more accidents than bikes. Two of my clubmates have been run down by cars and killed. Don’t go bleating about how motorists are hard done to.
Er, the police aren’t in charge of parking on yellow lines drivers any more are they?
There is no such thing as road tax!!!! There is however Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) which is priced according to the amount of pollution your vehicle produces. How much pollution does your bicycle produce??? How much pollution does YOUR car produce???
Maybe the ‘minor’ offences or even less minor, red lights, speeding, mobile phone use should be put out to private companies!
I suspect you would see an enormous change in how theses issues would be dealt with if private enterprise could make money with increased investment in cameras and resource, probably to a level that most motorists would not enjoy
Yet another example of the “police state” mentality permeating the fabric of our society.
they should cease benefit payments for not working parasites who are healthy, can work but refuse to do so (if somebody is a 24/7 carer for his elderly/disabled family member who is unable live on his own he is working!). the cash hungry councillors want to rip us off from our hard earned money. a proper PARASITES!
How about treating all road users equally, and that includes cyclists, who pay virtually nothing to use the roads.
Cycle paths and lanes are installed yet most cyclists don’t bother to use them and yet still expect car drivers to give way.
How about prosecuting cyclists for jumping red lights, weaving in and out of slow moving or stationary traffic, riding on pavements and through pedestrianised areas? The list is endless.
If there were reliable statistics, I would hazard a guess that, proportionately, cyclistc commit more traffic violations than car drivers.
On the point of fining road users, if it is to be permitted, the revenue should be ring fenced as extra funding for roads only, and not as a replacement for existing budgets.
Where do we start here ? We ALL pay to use the roads – that’s where our taxes go to.
Most cycle paths are rubbish. Badly surfaced with street furniture, off camber, slippy textures and bump across drives and often have to give way to side streets.
Decent cycle paths are used. Just look at London with their cycling superhighways.
By all means fine cyclists for jumping red lights and also do the same with cars.
I think your proportions are wrong – i see far more motorists speeding or using phones than I do bad cyclists.
Spend money on decent safe bike paths and they are used – and they can carry more people than cars on the roads can. The alternative is that you get more cars and more traffic. I know everyone complains about congestion – but forget that they are part of the problem.
Its about time councils enforced the laws they have, without trying to get more by using the Mayors time to try and get more laws passed on to them.Parking restrictions on parking outside schools is non existent in my area with three schools within half a mile. Let them work on the rules(laws) they already have first.
Think before you talk! Every time you see a cyclist, you are probably looking at a motorist who is riding a bike and therefore taking up very little road space, and producing minimal pollution, as compared to a perpetual motorist. If more people were on a bike as opposed to a car, there would be less traffic jams and less damage (potholes) to the road. Having said that, both motorists and cyclists should obey the traffic regulations. Dedicated cycle only routes are a good idea, however councils build them, but don’t maintain them. Therefore, certainly around here, tree roots are growing through them, also they are not swept, so they are usually covered in glass. But most importantly, cars park in them, causing the cyclist to swerve into the road. After a time the average cyclist says, why bother?, and continues on the road.
I don’t really care about infringement penalties, its what The Highway Code is meant to prevent.
My thought is this money should never go into the coffers of a LGA. Its stinks of corruption.
I always thought these fines went into the justice system.
If people are going to be penalised for minor infringements then I suggest that some councils look at some of there own daft lane markings, where its impossible not to break the law. I also suggest that these modern paints used on the roads are useless as they wear out in no time. Bring back proper lane markings.Vn
Wet roads murky light often road markings cannot beceven seen until one is virtually on them and probably it is too late!
Well we’ll. Here we go again. Road tax originally for upkeep of roads but not any more. Just where does our fuel tax go ? Or insurance tax? If councils want more money then get rid of local mayors. Not needed and big salary saving plus all the council jobsworth in plush offices doing nothing but dream up ridiculous ways of wasting money. Just look at Bristol City Councils record of ridiculous failure and wastage. It’s time for the motorist to say enough is enough
And yes let’s start taxing cyclists after all we pay for cycle lanes they don’t use .
Enfield council already enforces minor traffic violations. I have recently been hit by a £65 fine just because my back wheel was on the edge of a yellow box junction. I was there for less than a minute and if the person two cars up had moved up, I wouldn’t have been caught in the junction at all. I appealled but they they said no part of the vehicle can be in the junction, no matter how long for. I wouldn’t mind so much if when I complain about the state of the roads, the council did something about it but they just ignore my emails and god forbid that you are able to speak to anyone.
I know what you mean. This has happened to me so many times whilst driving in London although I haven’t received a fine …. yet. At some junctions you could wait for many traffic light cycles before actually getting the chance to fully clear the junction not to mention having to put up with enraged drivers behind you.
Motoring offences are dealt with by traffic police, motorists have no respect for any law, they totally ignore any speed limits and the rules governing pedestrian crossings. The problem we have is we do not have enough police, the squeeze on all our services has gotten out of hand, the government has to put the finances where finances are required and that means now.
More power? This is ridiculous as it is like giving the council a free hand in putting more cameras (at tax payers cost) to punish the people who paid for them. That will also give them the opportunity to put in yellow boxes, and other violations (in their opinion) to pin on innocent responsible motorists who are confronted with new by laws introduced by the councils which in a lot of cases are impractical, illegal and unjustifiable. On what grounds and on whose authority will those new laws be created and implemented. All these ridiculous restrictions and unjustifiable traffic offenses are taking away the basic Human Rights to enjoy what you bought Driving now is no more an enjoyment but a nightmare with all these ridiculous restrictions and by laws which is something that I question their legality.
Box junctions use traffic light/speed camera’s for catching people.
Easy solution is to use a speed camera detector and then you know where these camera’s are.
I use the Drivesmart Alpha and in London its been great for picking up all these camera’s.
Hopefully i won’t get anymore fines now
Or you know – crazy idea – you could just stick to the correct speeds ?
Yep, just another way of “taxing” motorists to fund the inadequacies of the modern social system!
Yes the money will be ring fenced/ used for roads, BUT the money that is currently set aside for such purposes, will go to handouts (known as community service) for e.g Christmas presents money, new washing machines etc for single mothers and the like. They need to get to grip with this sort of thing before yet again ripping off motorist.
Excellent idea Peter Kayley! Perhaps we could claim for wrecked suspensions and steering too!!
Running red lights and illegal right turns happen every day. These are dangerous and should be stopped via cameras and automatic fixed fines using existing powers. The aim of fines should be to make the roads safer, not to make our councils richer. Our traffic management systems seem to be aiming at slowing traffic down and increasing emmissions, rather than the opposite.
the so called ”speed bumps” are causing an enormous increase in the
need to adjust tracking on cars.It is not possible in all situations to cross
the bumps with the wheels in line .So will the L.A pay for adjustment or ??
Potholes in roads ,worse the parts of eastern Europe.
try slowing down perhaps ?
You’ve never been to Eastern Europe too…
Many of the Local councils services should be privatised in order to make them efficient and spend within their budgets. Roads, pathways, verges is an ideal start point. ‘They did their billy can brewing and they brew a little more each day’, clearly does not work.
I am also fed up with paying gold plated public pensions. I have my own private pension, why should I fund the public ones as well, privatisation is the way not taxing motorists!
Don’t forget the majority of the public are drivers and drivers vote for these councillors and politicians
It is criminal the way local councils so readily award fines, for the slightest misdemeanour, and often as a result of confusing signage
In my experience councils are the most devious, corrupt, cash grabbing bunch of criminals. It is absolute lunacy to give them yet another excuse to fleece the public instead of saving money by reducing corruption and increasing efficiency.
Another money grabbing scheme where the motorist comes off worst once again. Want some revenue, then hit the easy target. Pathetic.
No i think it is an atrocious idea. The local authorities keep putting up council taxes even though they are cutting all of our services to a minimum. I don’t agree with such big Government cutbacks but it does make me wonder what Local Authorities used to do with the Hundreds of Millions they have lost.
The proposal will further ‘weaponise’ the ‘anti any motorised vehicle’ forces in LG’s who already are already targeting motorists at any opportunity. Lefty LG’s will have a field day.
Get rid of the councils highly paid staff. Might then balance the books. All councils services costs are a big rip off, they get away with murder
central london police were booking you and you got a £60 fine for OVERHANGING (not being on) box junctions in 1970… 2weeks wage for a lot of people (work out what that would be now)
My daughter was fined in burton upon trent for having her rear tyre on the pavement for less than 1 inch. While it’s never happened before so watch out if you park and you have a tyre in the pavement expect a £70.00 fine
these powers should not be taken out of police hands, many councils have been known to abuse any powers that they already have
Apart from the issue of councils using the law to raise money rather than to lessen or prevent offences actually happening, this will also cause greater problems across the UK because drivers will have greater problems recognising which councils have powers over offences against other councils which have not. Let’s keep it an equal playing field in the hands of the police and Home Office, not the parochial justices.
Oxfordshire. Speed signs (and others as well) obscured by overhanging vegetation or so filthy that – certainly in darkness – one cannot make out what they indicate and sometimes one can not see them at all especially from a moving vehicle. Potholes that if I had my earlier smaller car would certainly cause wheel and suspension damage (not LP tyres either). With 17” wheels and still not LP tyres I am only just getting away with no (as yet) noticeable damage but no doubt the holes are taking their toll somewhere on the suspension.
Sounds like a great idea to me. The focus of this article is clearly pushed towards the money that councils will make off regulating these laws but there is a simple way of stopping them making that money: don’t break the law and drive as instructed.
Over staffed, over paid and in some instances under worked staff who are soaking up the scarce finance available.
Go to the Hants web site and look at the eye watering salaries, Pensions and Expenses we are paying them so called Exec’ and senior staff.
Within the last 6 weeks our village has received the un – announced attendance of the pot hole repair gang. Vehicles, twice the number of men required, severe traffic disruption and for what? To fill in pot holes and highway broken away at the edge of Earth banking. Cause? The continued passage of upto18 wheel 20/40 tonne loads on a country village road only some 5 metres wide. Repaired today and sometimes within the next 48 hrs ground out. This is supposedly a designated Hampshire Conservation Village.
HCC don’t listened despite repeated approaches to them, nor do they give a damn!
Police? Another cash draining joke. They should be allowed to concentrate on what they are being consistently prevented from doing and that is to get into the Community, to get out and about on foot, or on bikes and not cruise around in expensive vehicles, or tied up on endless paper trails.
Remove any element of their duties which are within the aegis of the Judiciary and I suggest that also goes for the local authorities.
That is the task of the Courts.
There are excellent, talented Oficers in both these fields of operation, but who are desperately frustrated, over worked and throughly dis – allusioned
Don’t believe me? Try asking them…