Pro motorist governemtn decision
Pro motorist governemtn decision
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Discussion

williamp

Original Poster:

20,390 posts

302 months

Saturday 21st June 2014
quotequote all
Sorry Derek, but the government has done somehting good for the motorist..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27952341

The widespread use of static and car-mounted cameras to catch drivers who park illegally in England is to be banned, the government has announced.

It says so-called "spy cars" have been used as a "cash cow" by councils, and it wants to end the "plague" of parking fines being sent in the post.

Instead traffic wardens will have to fix penalty notices to windscreens.

Councils will still be able to use the cameras near schools, in bus lanes and bus stops, and on "red routes".

Currently, some councils can use CCTV cameras or "approved devices" to enforce parking restrictions, under Labour's 2004 Traffic Management Act.

The government says nine million parking fines are now issued every year by local authorities in England and wants to rein-in "over-zealous parking enforcement practices".

The ban follows a three-month consultation

'Fairer deal'
Announcing the measures, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the government was taking "urgently needed action to ban this clear abuse of CCTV".

"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.

"Over-zealous parking enforcement and unreasonable stealth fines by post undermine the high street, push up the cost of living and cost local authorities more in the long term," he said.

However, the Local Government Association says the cameras stop motorists parking dangerously and protect pedestrians.

Other proposals announced by the government include:

Trialling a 25% discount of the full price of their parking ticket for motorists who lose an appeal against a parking fine at tribunal
Giving local residents and firms the right to demand a review of parking in their area
Reforming parking guidance so it is less "heavy-handed" and to stop "over-aggressive" action by bailiffs
Maintaining a freeze on fixed penalty notices for the remainder of this parliament
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the measures would deliver a "fairer deal for motorists, ensuring that parking enforcement is proportionate, that school children are protected and buses can move freely, and that key routes are kept clear".

AC43

13,611 posts

237 months

Saturday 21st June 2014
quotequote all
I actually like a camera cars outside the school gates. It's the only thing that stops the kn*bhead parents parking stupidly right at the entrance.

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

255 months

Saturday 21st June 2014
quotequote all
It's blatant electioneering, designed to gain the motorists' votes. Expect something for every sector of society between now and next May.

Dammit

3,816 posts

237 months

Saturday 21st June 2014
quotequote all
This is not a fairer deal for the motorist, its pandering to those who park illegally.

Pro-tip: if you don't break the law they can't get you.


corozin

2,680 posts

300 months

Saturday 21st June 2014
quotequote all
Depressingly enough, this change in Government Policy towards motorists is more likely to have been stirred by Mumsnet than Pistonheads.

ferrariF50lover

1,834 posts

255 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
quotequote all
Dammit said:
Pro-tip: if you don't break the law they can't get you.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27955555

Simon.

slipstream 1985

13,755 posts

208 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
quotequote all
Only one that i can think of is the lifting of the toll on the forth bridge near Edinburgh. It instantly got rid of a major choking point on peoples journey home.