Thousands of motorists hit with fines for breaking Highway Code rule despite council investing in deterrents
WATCH: Local councils have raked in billions in parking charges across the UK
GB NEWS
Thousands of drivers have been slapped with penalties for committing serious driving offences across the east of England and risking the safety of pedestrians.
North East Lincolnshire Council revealed that 1,364 fines were issued to drivers last year for parking illegally outside schools.
Drivers caught stopping on the yellow zig zag lines during school drop-offs can receive a £70 penalty charge notice, although this can be reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.
Across the region 12 schools have already signed up to the initiative which sees rulebreakers fined for inconsiderate parking.
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Drivers caught parking on yellow zig-zag lines near schools can be fined £70
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Penalties first began in 2022 when the council installed CCTV cameras outside a selection of schools in Cleethorpes. Prior to the fines, drivers were given a two-week grace period where a warning would be issued.
Speaking at the time, Councillor Ron Shepherd said: "We've recently invested £2.2million in our CCTV network to upgrade it. We’re now in a position where we can liaise with colleagues in the Police and other emergency services to manage any situation that arises. We share a lot of footage with the Police to be used as evidence in cases.”
Rule 191 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not park on a crossing or in an area covered by the yellow zig-zag lines.
It adds: "You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians."
Last year, 12 schools took part in the scheme with subsequent penalties issued across the region, with 1,364 fines handed out.
Outside one academy, a total of 335 fines were issued, while more than 100 drivers were slapped with a penalty charge notice outside six other schools.
Commenting on the new penalty stats, Shepherd added: "Whilst this is a positive result, it is worrying that there were 1,364 incidents where people continued to park illegally.
"These actions endanger children and other pedestrians in the area. School staff inform us that the cameras are working to deter people from stopping illegally and we will continue to do this to make our school gates safe for everyone.
"We will robustly continue to enforce in school areas and work in consultation with schools to ensure the restrictions are adhered to.”
Responses to the penalties have been mixed as some local residents have backed the "vital" safety measures, although others claim it is purely a money-making scheme.
One person shared on social media: "It’s absolutely ridiculous the number of entitled parents who think they’reabsolutely fine to park on double yellow lines, on the corner of streets so you cannot see past their cars, covering pavements and the rest!"
However, another person noted how drivers all have the same availability of parking, suggesting that a camera outside each school would "stop it instantly".
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The council hopes the enforcements will help deter drivers from inconsiderate
NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCILHowever someone else warned that enforcing parking penalties near schools could risk creating a "knock on effect of dangerous parking elsewhere when children are dropped off".
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