A two month trial period for Havering Council's powers on Moving Traffic Contraventions (MTCs) begins on Monday 20 July.
Motorists considered to have contravened the regulations will be sent Warning Notices in the post with no financial penalty. Full Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for real will be issued from Friday 18 September by the Council's Civil Parking Enforcement team.
The powers, adopted from the Police, allow action against MTCs and encroachments into bus lanes. MTCs include entry into one way streets, no entry roads and locations where turns are prohibited.
From 20 July these traffic contraventions will no longer be criminal offences and will become civil motoring contraventions, where the Council may issue a PCN. The cost of a PCN is £130, although this is reduced to £65 if paid within the discounted period of 14 days.
The powers are primarily aimed at making Havering's roads safer and will lead directly to a reduction in accidents. Other benefits include an improved traffic flow, with smoother and more reliable travel times for residents on shopping trips and other local travel. There will also be a boost to the local economy as businesses experience fewer hold-ups with deliveries. The environment will benefit from a reduction in noxious traffic fumes, as a smoother traffic flow allows car engines to burn fuel more efficiently.
Misuse of bus lanes can cause serious delays for bus travellers and the Council is determined to make bus arrivals more punctual and journey times more reliable and encourage other road users to switch to buses.
While the Council is legally barred from using photographs from members of the public as evidence for the issuing of a PCN, it remains keen to receive complaints about particular places. These will allow the enforcement teams to target their resources most effectively.
Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Environment said:
"These new powers will make our roads safer, which is a key part of our Safer Havering Campaign. They will also allow us to crack down on banned turns which are effectively a form of dangerous queue jumping. Traffic will flow more smoothly, local businesses will be boosted by quicker deliveries, and protecting our bus lanes will help buses to arrive on time."
The powers, adopted from the Police, allow action against MTCs and encroachments into bus lanes. MTCs include entry into one way streets, no entry roads and locations where turns are prohibited.
From 20 July these traffic contraventions will no longer be criminal offences and will become civil motoring contraventions, where the Council may issue a PCN. The cost of a PCN is £130, although this is reduced to £65 if paid within the discounted period of 14 days.
The powers are primarily aimed at making Havering's roads safer and will lead directly to a reduction in accidents. Other benefits include an improved traffic flow, with smoother and more reliable travel times for residents on shopping trips and other local travel. There will also be a boost to the local economy as businesses experience fewer hold-ups with deliveries. The environment will benefit from a reduction in noxious traffic fumes, as a smoother traffic flow allows car engines to burn fuel more efficiently.
Misuse of bus lanes can cause serious delays for bus travellers and the Council is determined to make bus arrivals more punctual and journey times more reliable and encourage other road users to switch to buses.
While the Council is legally barred from using photographs from members of the public as evidence for the issuing of a PCN, it remains keen to receive complaints about particular places. These will allow the enforcement teams to target their resources most effectively.
Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Environment said:
"These new powers will make our roads safer, which is a key part of our Safer Havering Campaign. They will also allow us to crack down on banned turns which are effectively a form of dangerous queue jumping. Traffic will flow more smoothly, local businesses will be boosted by quicker deliveries, and protecting our bus lanes will help buses to arrive on time."
