Drivers slapped with 3,000 fines as new traffic laws and road cameras roll out across major city
Cameras are in place across Liverpool city centre
PA
A major city has issued roughly 3,000 fines to drivers since launching new "reg plate" traffic cameras this week after a warning period ended.
During that time, the Liverpool City Council issued 40,000 warnings in the lead-up to the cameras being operational rather than the standard £70 fine.
The Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras form part of new enforcement powers granted by the Department for Transport to tackle dangerous driving in the capital.
The cameras were put in place to help reduce congestion, improve air quality and road safety while also encouraging sustainable travel.
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Liverpool City Council started issuing fines last week
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As part of the Traffic Management Act (2004), local authorities are allowed to fine drivers for bad habits which previously could only be enforced by the police.
Motorists can now be fined for undertaking banned turns, driving through a "no entry" sign and driving in a route permitted for buses and taxis only.
Fines can also be issued for driving through a school street, pedestrian and cycle zone and entering a yellow box junction when the exit is unclear.
So far, the cameras have been placed on Lime Street from London Road, Lime Street bus link between Skelhorne Street and St George’s Place and Copperas Hill at Ranelagh Place.
There are additional cameras on Ranelagh Street at Brownlow Hill, Whitechapel Cross/Hall Street junction and The Strand at New Quay/Chapel Street and St Anne Street.
A new camera has also gone live on The Strand at George’s Dock Gates/St Nicholas Place and has been placed to catch drivers going through “no entry” areas and stopping on box junctions. The existing bus gate on Ranelagh Street also has ANPR cameras.
Councillor Dan Barrington, said: “Road Safety is of paramount importance to the Council. These new powers to enforce moving traffic contraventions are a key part of a wider programme to improve road safety across the city.”
He added that the aim of the cameras and moving traffic offences is to educate people to be more patient behind the wheel.
Barrington commented: “These new APNR cameras are enabling us to enforce the Highway Code and improve behaviours at key junctions, in both the city centre and near to our schools.
“That’s why as a Council we’re supporting moves to improve public transport and why we’re investing millions of pounds in active travel infrastructure to make it easier and safer to walk and cycle more often.”
The new cameras come off the back of further traffic measures put in place by the council earlier this year.
According to reports, between April and December of last year, over 100,000 drivers were fined in Liverpool for poor parking.
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PAThe new ANPR cameras also form part of key changes to the city’s highway networks this year. This included upgrades of The Strand and Lime Street and an increasing amount of cycle lanes being introduced across the city.
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