Posted on Thursday 17th March 2022
David Williams
A parking enforcement camera car is being trialled on a Burton street where school pupils’ safety is being put at risk by dangerously parked vehicles.
Staffordshire County Council is introducing the week-long trial on Violet Way after repeated reports of vehicles parked on restricted areas close to Violet Way Academy.
From Monday, anyone stopping or parking on ‘keep clear’ markings outside of the school could now be captured with use of the camera car and issued a penalty charge notice (PCN).
The current traffic regulation order (TRO) allows the county council to use evidence captured by a camera car to enforce the restrictions – making it much easier to issue a PCN for anyone found parking illegally and putting the safety of children and pedestrians at risk.
The camera car uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology, enabling officers to quickly obtain evidence needed to issue a PCN to anyone who stops on the yellow zigzag lines. The £70 PCN would then be posted straight to the home of the vehicle’s registered keeper.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Williams said:
Safety on our roads is of paramount importance to the county council and dangerous parking which endangers the safety of children and parents is just not acceptable.
Our enforcement team has not taken the step to introduce this trial lightly, and people should be aware that from Monday irresponsible parking could lead to a £70 PCN.
We hope that this trial will lead to an improvement in driver behaviour near the school. We’ll also be monitoring school parking across the county and could roll out the trial to other areas, in addition to working with schools to encourage more walking or cycling.”
The camera car is being leased from Stoke-on-Trent City Council as part of the county council’s parking enforcement partnership.