Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Critics say controversial vehicles are a ploy to increase fine revenue Parking fine spy cars considered by council
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jbullen@thekmgroup.co.uk @JamieBullenKM tesy towards me and I’m glad he took the trouble to come out and see me.
“I think he got told I had been saying things about the traffic flow in Whitstable and he came across to fill me in from his perspective.”
Since 2008, Medway council has used the cars to penalise 50,000 drivers breaking traffic laws – bringing in more than £1.6 million in fines.
Steve Baker, from the No to Mob campaign, has labelled the cars a “revenue enforcement tool”.
He said: “We are not against enforcement but we are against the ethics of camera cars because they allow the motorists to commit the offences.
“They are supposed to be a visible deterrent but they hide in the background. If we had our way they would be bright orange with bells and whistles.
“We think they are just a revenuedriven enforcement tool.
“The only way they can afford to keep these cars is to give out ‘X’ amounts of tickets per month.
“If Canterbury City Council is thinking about introducing them there would have to be a consultation and we would gladly come down to a council meeting and discuss with some of the councillors.”
City council spokesman Robert Davies admitted they have looked into using camera cars in Canterbury but added there were no plans to buy them just yet.
Problems
He said: “It was something we’ve had an initial exploration into, as we’re always looking at new ways and new technology that might be used in relation to particular types of problems.
“There are no plans at the moment to purchase or commission such equipment, although that might change some time in the future if it was considered appropriate.”
Emma Carr, deputy director of Big Brother Watch, added: “Canter- bury City Council needs to be clear whether the CCTV cars will actually act as a deterrent for parking violations or are, in fact, merely a convenient source of cash.
“The council should focus its efforts and resources on dealing with the parking problems that residents and drivers face daily, rather than using CCTV cars to punish drivers instead.
“If necessary, traffic wardens can be dispatched to ‘problem areas’ where rational judgement can be made about whether to issue a fine.
“By taking decision-making away from officers and giving it to a CCTV camera, the council is moving rational decisions and good judgement away from the law enforcement process.”
What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE.