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24
Jan
Council estimates new powers over traffic enforcement could raise £600,000
North Yorkshire Council looks set to fine motorists for traffic violations under new powers in a move which it estimates could raise hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The Department for Transport extended civil enforcement powers for “moving traffic offences” to 22 council areas in November.
It will see the authority given the power to fine drivers for violations such as stopping in a box junction, failing to adhere to one-way systems and driving in cycle lanes.
However, it is unclear which of the violations the council intends to clamp down on.
In its budget plans, the council estimates that implementing the powers could raise £600,000 over the next three years.
In its report, the authority said:
Securing these powers will provide an additional tool to manage the highway network effectively and fulfil its statutory responsibilities to reduce congestion, minimise delays, and enhance road safety.
It added that enforcing the powers would also contribute to the authority’s savings plan, which aims to save the council £52 million over the next three years.
The Stray Ferret reported in October 2023 that the council was considering applying for the enforcement powers from government.
At the time, the Conservative-run authority wanted to implement traffic enforcement at a yellow box junction on the A19 in Selby.
It followed a 2019 survey by the Local Government Association, which revealed 67% of local authorities said the police did not actively enforce any moving traffic offences in their area.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at the council, told the Stray Ferret previously:
We are seeking to take tougher action to tackle dangerous driving on North Yorkshire’s roads.
Using new powers, we have the chance to enforce offences such as driving in cycle lanes, failing to adhere to one-way systems and no entry signs, entering yellow box junctions and failing to give priority to ongoing traffic.
By adopting these enforcement powers proportionately in problem areas, we hope to improve road safety for all road users, reduce congestion, emissions and journey times, and allow North Yorkshire Police to focus resources elsewhere.
The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire Council to ask how it intended to enforce the powers and why it was looking to implement the powers now, but had not received a response by the time of publication.
The Traffic Management Act in 2004 introduced civil enforcement of traffic offences in England and Wales.
The act was laid before Parliament in 2022, granting local authorities’ powers to enforce minor traffic offences.
The Labour government extended the powers to 22 councils, including City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council, in November 2024.
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