Council hands out 796 instant fines to motorists

Security cameras have been installed to enforce regulations at traffic hotspots

Almost 800 fines have been handed out in one month to drivers who ignored road restrictions in busy areas of a town.

West Northamptonshire Council said it had already sent out warning letters over a six-month period to get motorists to follow the rules in three traffic hotspots in the town.

The restrictions include a no right turn sign, a hatched junction and a bus lane.

Cameras were installed to catch people who carry on disregarding the regulations.

The council caught out 415 drivers ignoring the hatched junction at the end of St John's Street

The council said a total of 415 penalty charge notices (PNCs) were sent out to motorists who had ignored a hatched yellow box at the junction of St John's Street and Victoria Gardens, near the Royal and Derngate theatres.

A further 316 PCNs were sent out to motorists who turned right despite a sign prohibiting the manoeuvre at the junction of Fishponds Road and Great Billing Way.

Trips through a bus lane in Hermitage Way in Wootton also proved to be an expensive mistake for 65 drivers.

The notices came with a fine of £70, which is reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

PCNs were sent to 316 drivers who turned right from Fishponds Road to Great Billing Way

While the St John's Street PCNs began on 1 August, the others did not start until 16 August, so the figures for those sites cover two weeks.

Councils were given the powers to issue PCNs to help reduce traffic congestion after the law changed to enable local authorities to apply for powers to fine drivers for moving traffic contraventions.

Driving along a bus lane resulted in 65 motorists receiving a PCN fine

Phil Larratt, the council's cabinet member for highways, said: “We made an informed decision to introduce enforcement cameras at these locations.

"Although they have been in place for some months now and are acting as a deterrent, we continue to see motorists breaching the rules.

“Whilst we understand some have raised concerns, many are supportive of our efforts, with people requesting us to consider putting in place similar measures elsewhere across West Northants."