First-time offenders breaking traffic rules in Liverpool will now be given a fine, instead of a written warning, at a number of locations after a six-month notice period ended.
A series of ANPR cameras designed to curb moving traffic contraventions went live in Liverpool earlier this year, with motorists receiving a letter instead of a £70 fine for their first offence.
The warning notice period involved the City Council issuing approximately 40,000 warnings and close to 3,000 fines to repeat offenders during that time.
This is using enforcement powers granted by the Department of Transport to tackle unlawful and dangerous driving behaviour and to help reduce congestion, improve air quality and road safety, and encourage sustainable travel.
It involved a series of offences including undertaking, banned turns, driving through a No Entry sign, driving in a route permitted for buses and taxis only, driving through a school street, pedestrian and cycle zone and entering a yellow box junction when the exit is not clear.
The new powers, as set out in Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act (2004), allows local authorities to penalise poor driving habits which previously could only be enforced by the police, under criminal law.
ANPR cameras are only operation during school term times.
Councillor Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, 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.
“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.
“Our overall aim is to educate people to be more patient behind the wheel, and ideally encourage people to think twice about using the car at all. Most car journeys in the city are under 5km, many of which could be done by alternative methods.
“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.”
(Picture – Liverpool City Council)
