HUNDREDS of fines have been sent to drivers after a new camera car caught them breaking parking rules in Leicester.
The city council has introduced a new enforcement car, equipped with a number plate recognition camera, to help tackle illegal and dangerous parking.
Since taking to the streets four weeks ago, the CCTV car has captured a total of 1,509 motorists flouting existing parking restrictions across the city.
Anyone caught parking illegally by the camera car will be automatically issued with a £70 fixed penalty notice.
The new CCTV car can be used to monitor and enforce moving parking offences on red routes, zigzag markings on school streets, and bus stop clearways where illegal parking can put the safety of others at risk and cause unnecessary congestion.
Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “In its first four weeks, the CCTV enforcement car has caught hundreds of motorists flouting parking rules. They will now face a fine, but more importantly receive a strong message that illegal and dangerous parking will not go unpunished.
“We know that camera enforcement and fines can be a very effective deterrent. We are sending the CCTV car out to areas where we know there are persistent issues with illegal parking but no current fixed camera enforcement.
“Councils have a duty to tackle dangerous and illegal parking. We are confident that the new CCTV enforcement will be an effective tool to clamp down on dangerous and inconsiderate parking, especially in areas where there are lots of children and busy traffic.”
In the first 28 days, the CCTV car’s patrols haves resulted in 1,475 fines being issued for illegal parking on red routes on London Road, Gravel Street and Abbey Lane. A further 34 penalty charge notices have been issued for illegal parking close to school gates outside eight city schools.
The purchase and ongoing maintenance of the CCTV enforcement car will be paid for from parking fine income with any surplus ringfenced for local road safety improvements.