Almost 8,000 Bolton motorists fall foul of new bus lane traffic cameras in first three months of operation

Almost 8,000 motorists in Bolton have been fined – or warned – in the first three months of bus lane traffic enforcement at 14 sites across the borough. The bus lane cameras were activated on a phased basis on October 9 last year, with drivers who contravene during operating hours receiving warning letters or penalty charge notices.

Automatic number plate recognition cameras capture the registration plate details of all vehicles driving illegally along the bus lane. Speaking at a meeting of Bolton council on Wednesday, cabinet member Hamid Khurram revealed that for the initial six months of the scheme, drivers who contravene the restrictions for the first time will be sent warning letters and not fixed penalties, however, more than 1,000 drivers who fell foul more than once have been fined.

He said: “We all recognise the delay in bringing forward bus lane improvement I’m pleased things are now in place. “From October, 6,688 warning notices and 1,067 penalty notices have been issued. “We will continue to issue warning notices to all first contraventions for the first six months of the scheme.

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“To manage the workload in the team it has been important to introduce enforcement on a phased basis with more bus lanes going live in the coming months. “To date the penalty notices paid have resulted in income of £19,460.”

Coun Khurram denied that the cameras were being used as a money making scheme by the council. He, said: “Next year is expected to be the first year when parking services will achieve their income target as all lanes will be operational in terms of enforcement.

“But this is not about generation on income, congestion is the main reason.
“Tackling congestion will