The government has announced plans to ban the widespread use of static and car-mounted cameras by councils in England to catch drivers who park illegally. The move aims to end what ministers describe as the 'plague' of parking fines sent by post, which they claim have been used as a 'cash cow' by local authorities.
Under the new measures, traffic wardens will be required to fix penalty notices to windscreens instead of relying on CCTV or 'approved devices' for enforcement. However, cameras will still be permitted near schools, in bus lanes and bus stops, and on 'red routes'.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the government was taking 'urgently needed action to ban this clear abuse of CCTV'. He added: 'CCTV spy cars can be seen lurking on every street raking in cash for greedy councils and breaking the rules that clearly state that fines should not be used to generate profit for town halls.'
The Local Government Association defended the use of cameras, arguing they stop motorists parking dangerously and protect pedestrians. Currently, nine million parking fines are issued annually in England under Labour's 2004 Traffic Management Act.
Other measures announced include trialling a 25% discount on parking tickets for motorists who lose an appeal at tribunal, giving residents and firms the right to demand a review of parking in their area, and maintaining a freeze on fixed penalty notices for the remainder of this parliament.
