IGNORANT drivers are being warned they could pay for flouting the rules of the road under new plans to monitor problem areas with CCTV.
Nottingham City Council plans to spend £40,000 on an automatic number plate recognition camera for a Department of Transport pilot scheme to tackle unsafe and disruptive driving.
It hopes to collect enough evidence to move responsibility for "moving traffic offences" – including ignoring box junction rules and making illegal turns – from the police to local authorities.
Roads monitored by the portable camera will include David Lane, in Old Basford, Queen's Road at its junction with Carrington Street and Beck Street, both in the city centre.
These sites have been identified as having high numbers of drivers who ignore traffic restrictions.
Councillor Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for Planning and Transportation, said: "Keeping our city's roads safe is a priority for Nottingham City Council.
"While we have a great record for stopping vehicles using our bus lanes, we haven't had the powers to take action against other moving traffic offences such as people ignoring "No Entry" signs.
"This pilot will give us chance to develop a system where we can do this and, subject to the enactment of the powers under the Transport Act 2004, we would be able to start using an adapted bus lane camera for other moving vehicle enforcement.
"Should the pilot not succeed we would still be able to use the camera as part of our already successful bus lane enforcement programme.
"We have pushed for these powers for some time and we are pleased the Secretary of State for Transport has listened to our case and asked us to look at providing tangible evidence, practical and effective solutions."
Anyone caught during the six-month pilot will not be fined but their vehicle registration will be passed to Notts Police. The force will carry out DVLA registered keeper checks and issue warning and advice letters to owners of the vehicles.
It is hoped the scheme will free up police resources, allowing the force to focus on more serious crime.
A report submitted about the pilot states: "Due to their focus on core responsibilities, the police service is not in a position to give priority to the more minor moving traffic offence."
If the pilot is successful the council can apply for an order to take responsibility for moving traffic offences across its whole area.
More cameras would go up and fixed penalty notices would be issued to those that break the rules.
Sarah MaCleod, 35 of Nottingham, could not see the scheme working long-term.
She said: "The council can't manage the issues they have now and it just seems like another money-making idea."
The £40,000 needed for the project will come from existing Traffic Management budgets.
