Bus lane cameras catch more than 1,200 drivers in first week

A view from a bus lane camera in Belfast on the day fines were introduced

More than 1,200 drivers were caught in the first week of a new crackdown on the illegal use of Belfast bus lanes.

On average, almost 200 drivers a day were caught.

With a minimum £45 fine imposed, it means more than £50,000 will be gathered in just seven days.

The crackdown began on 22 June, with the introduction of six new bus lane cameras in the city centre and a mobile detection unit.

Since then, a total of 1,273 drivers have been caught.

The fixed cameras are positioned at:

• Great Victoria Street, near the Europa Hotel

• College Square East, near Belfast Inst school

• East Bridge Street, near Central Station

• Castle Place, near Royal Avenue

• Belfast City Hall, where two cameras are in place

The mobile detection unit is monitoring main roads into the city including the Shore Road, Lisburn Road and Ormeau Road.

Anyone caught breaching bus lane rules is fined £90, but the total is reduced to £45 if paid within two weeks.

A spokesperson for the department for regional development said 1273 penalty charge notices (PCNs) had been issued to motorists for driving in bus lanes or bus-only streets in the week commencing 22 June.

"Drivers are entitled to challenge their PCN through the process detailed on the back of all PCNs," the spokesperson added.