New bus lane cameras catch 1,680 Liverpool drivers in just three days

Sep 17 2009 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

MORE than 1,680 drivers were caught on CCTV abusing bus lanes in Liverpool city centre in their first three days in operation.

Council officials were amazed by the number of people caught breaking the rules since the cameras were activated on Monday.

But those caught will escape a £60 fine because the council is issuing “dummy tickets” for the first few weeks of the new scheme.

Drivers using the bus lanes in Lime Street, Old Haymarket/St John’s Lane and the right turn into James Street from The Strand face the fine.

The penalty is reduced to £30 for early payers.

Parking manager Roy Tunstall said: “I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the number of people abusing the bus lanes.

“It is an amazingly large number of people. I have to admit I am quite alarmed by it.

“We knew there was excessive abuse, but not like this.

“We are hoping in time the number starts to fall, but realistically there will always be motorists who flout the rules.” Surveys in the three initial sites identified up to 77% of motorists abusing the bus lane.

Officials anticipate around 10,000 tickets will be issued each year.

Taxis – both hackney cabs and private hire vehicles – can use the bus lanes.