Moving Traffic Offences Consultation

Overview

In May 2022, the Government granted powers to enable councils to enforce moving traffic enforcement. The purpose of the new powers is so councils can manage specific road locations where there may be issues with persistent moving traffic offences. Currently enforcement of moving traffic offences can only be carried out by the police under criminal law and a penalty notice issued. Stockport Council will be looking to apply for the new powers to expand the work we already do to improve road safety and tackle congestion. We would like to hear your views on whether you agree or disagree with Stockport Council applying for and using these new powers.

Moving traffic offences include:

• Entering yellow box junctions when the exit is not clear
• Driving through a 'No Entry' sign
• Turning left or right when instructed not to do so
• Driving where and when motor vehicles are prohibited
• Driving on routes that are for buses and taxis only
• Going the wrong way in a one-way street
• Ignoring a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)

What are the benefits of making this change?

The benefits of moving traffic offence enforcement are:

• Improved road safety including those walking, cycling, and wheeling. This can help to encourage more people to take up active travel options.
• Reduced traffic congestion.
• Improved journey times for public transport services.
• Reduction in vehicle emissions which in turn improves air quality and supports our zero-carbon target.
• Enabling the Police to focus their policing priorities elsewhere.
• Increased safety and cleaner air around schools – camera enforced school streets schemes are proven to have a positive effect.

How do Stockport Council plan to use the enforcement powers?

At first, we plan to use powers to enforce at five locations. These are:

• Demmings Road, Cheadle - enforcing the 7.5t Weight Limit in place on the bridge.
• A6/Bramhall Lane Junction, enforcing the No Right turn from Bramhall Lane to the A6, and the No Left turn from the A6 to Bramhall Lane.
• Massie Street and High Street Junction, Cheadle enforcing the No Right Turn from Massie Street to High Street, Cheadle.
• A6 London Road and New Moor Lane Junction, enforcing illegal entry of the yellow box at this location.
• A6 and George’s Road, Stockport Junction, enforcing the No Right Turn from George’s Road onto the A6.

How will future sites be chosen?

We would take a consistent and measured approach to enforcement, using cameras at sites where it has been identified that there is an absolute need. Each potential site must help achieve at least one of the following objectives (as outlined by the DfT application conditions):

• Improve road safety
• Encourage active travel choices
• Tackle network congestion
• Increase public transport reliability
• Improve air quality
• Increase lifespan of highway assets

What will happen to the income generated by PCNs?

Unlike funds raised by speed camera fines, which are transferred to central government, any money raised through this enforcement will be kept by the local authority, but must be spent on:

• Recouping costs of enforcement
• Paying for public transport provision
• Paying for highway improvement projects
• Paying for environmental improvements in the authority's area

How will offences be enforced?

The government have issued guidelines that regulate how local highway authorities must enforce moving traffic offences.  Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras must be Vehicle Certification Agency compliant and will be installed at the sites to be enforced and PCNs will be issued via post to the 'Registered Keeper' of the vehicle (in the same way bus lane cameras currently operate across the country).

Will drivers be able to challenge PCNs?

When a PCN is issued, there will be details on how a challenge can be made. As with parking PCNs, this must be in writing and within the timescales set out on the PCN. For the first six months of operation warning notices will be sent for first time offences and a Penalty Charge will not be issued. However, once a warning has been sent any future contravention will lead to a PCN.

Why your views matter

We'd like to know your views on the new powers, and whether you have any alternative ideas or suggestions on how to reduce congestion and improve road safety on Stockport’s network and in particular around schools.