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:
What are the benefits of making this change?
The benefits of moving traffic offence enforcement are:
How do Stockport Council plan to use the enforcement powers?
At first, we plan to use powers to enforce at five locations. These are:
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):
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:
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.
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.
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