Authority applies to hand out traffic fines

COUNCILLORS have agreed to apply for new powers to enforce traffic offences across Devon. Devon County Council is set to take advantage of new rules which mean local councils can now apply to the government to tackle a range of driving issues for the first time and hand out fines.

Moving traffic offences (MTO) include driving through a ‘no entry’ sign, driving the wrong way up a oneway street, entering yellow box junctions when there is no clear exit and driving in bus lanes.

Currently these offences are monitored and enforced by Devon and Cornwall Police.

The decision by Devon’s Conservative-run cabinet on Wednesday follows a review by a council scrutiny committee, which concluded that if correctly implemented the new powers could reduce traffic congestion and the number of accidents.

Cabinet member for highways, Councillor Stuart Hughes said: “By doing this we will increase our ability to fulfil our network management duty through improving compliance.”

Councillors also agreed to review parking management across Devon, which could involve introducing new pay and display areas, and to seek to boost advertising revenue at its roundabouts and lampposts by bringing in a contractor.

“It’s not the intent to proliferate the county with obtrusive signage but merely formalise and bring a greater level of consistency to how the current [advertising] offer is managed,” Cllr Hughes added.

While the advertising and parking measures are expected to eventually generate more money for the council, it was clarified at the meeting that the new moving traffic powers are not meant to generate a profit.

Meg Booth, director of climate change, environment and transport, said: “In fact, if anything, the guidelines are very clear – we should not be doing that and it would be seen as a failure of this authority if we are generating revenue from it.”

A limited number of sites, covered by CCTV, are planned for “initial consideration” for the moving traffic scheme. They are: Heavitree Fore Street, Exeter, bus lane; Exe Bridges bus lane; Exe Bridges yellow box iunction; Penn Inn roundabout Newton Abbot yellow box junction; Exeter Topsham Road/Burnthouse Lane bus lane and the Square, near Boutport Street, Barnstaple bus lane.

Before making their application, Devon will need to “gather evidence that offences are occurring at their proposed enforcement locations, causing concerns for: safety, congestion, active travel priority or public transport reliability.” A minimum six-week public consultation will then take place.

For the first six months of operation, in accordance with national guidance, the first offence committed by a driver would produce a warning only. Subsequent breaches would result in a £70 (higher level) or £50 (lower level) penalty charge, reduced to 50 per cent if paid within 21 days. If the council’s application is successful, powers are likely to be confirmed by the end of 2023.