No plans to expand council enforcement of traffic violations in North Tyneside
North Tyneside has confirmed it has no plans to extend its powers over traffic violations due to financial pressures.
The council, along with other councils across the country, can take up the enforcement of moving traffic violations under the Traffic Management Act 2004. Such violations include U-turns, illegal left and right turns, entries into pedestrian zones and improper priority.
However, a North Tyneside Council report has stated it does not have the money to install the infrastructure required to allow it to monitor traffic in this way.
The report states: “The authority does not have, at present, any intention to request these powers on the following basis: there are significant initial set up costs associated with implementation, such as the purchase of camera equipment, staffing, IT systems, infrastructure improvements.
It continued: “Given the financial pressure on local government, the development and delivery of such a project would need to be supported with a robust business case that clearly demonstrates a cost-recovery model that does not place any financial burden on the council”. North Tyneside Council does, however, currently operate six automatic number plate recognition cameras in bus lanes across the area.
The price of processing fines, payments, and non-payments was also highlighted as prohibitive.
However, according to the report, the council will check in on neighbouring councils which are considering enforcing this and consider collaboration. The council says it continues to work alongside Northumbria Police to “improve the safety of our residents and visitors”.
Schemes include the Northumbria Road Safety Initiative where cameras are set at car crash hotspots. The project also finances primary school road safety training and driver awareness sessions.