Liverpool warns 40,000 drivers caught on camera

Liverpool City Council issued 40,000 warnings to drivers caught committing moving traffic violations by new cameras in the past six months.

The automatic number plate recognition cameras were installed under new powers granted by the Government to some English councils to tackle unlawful and dangerous driving.

Since installing the cameras, Liverpool has also issued 3,000 fines to repeat offenders.

Following a six-month notice period, the warning system for motorists caught committing a violation for the first time has been removed, and they will be fined £70.

The cameras were installed to discourage offences like undertaking banned turns, driving through a no entry sign, or down a bus route or school street.

Liverpool’s cabinet member for environment and climate change, Dan Barrington, said: ‘Our overall aim is to educate people to be more patient behind the wheel, and ideally encourage people to think twice about using the car at all.

‘Most car journeys in the city are under 5km, many of which could be done by alternative methods.’

In April, the Conservative government shelved the further roll-out to councils of enforcement powers for moving traffic violations.

This article first appeared on localgov.co.uk.