Walsall Council to gain powers for civil enforcement of moving traffic contraventions
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On Saturday 22 July 2023, Walsall Council will gain civil enforcement powers for moving traffic contraventions, along with 39 other councils in England.
Walsall Council to gain powers for civil enforcement of moving traffic contraventions
A moving traffic contravention is committed when drivers do not comply with designated Traffic Regulation Orders. These orders are put in place to regulate the use of the public highway and ensure the safety of all road users.
Moving traffic contraventions include:
- Driving through a no entry sign
- Turning left or right when instructed not to do so
- Entering yellow box junctions when the exit is not clear
- Driving where and when motor vehicles are prohibited
- Driving on routes that are for buses and taxis only
- Driving the wrong way in a one-way street
- Ignoring a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)
Following the powers being brought into force, the council can enforce moving traffic contraventions through decriminalised procedures. West Midlands Police will still retain the ability to enforce moving traffic contraventions but through criminal procedures.
The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, recently confirmed his support for Walsall Council gaining moving traffic contravention enforcement powers to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper.
All enforcement activity will be undertaken through CCTV (closed-circuit television) or ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) technology, which has been approved by the Department for Transport.
Motorists found to be in contravention of a restriction may be issued with a penalty charge notice. The charge is set nationally and is currently £70. Alternatively, the charge can be paid at a discounted rate of £35, if paid within 21 days.
Motorists will also have the option to submit an appeal, should they wish to contest the penalty charge notice.
“ Put simply, we want safe streets for all highway users. We want to reduce the dangers created by drivers who sometimes accidentally, but often willfully, ignore moving traffic restrictions.
We also want to reduce unnecessary traffic congestion that causes delays for public transport and other traffic within the borough
“
“ We want to improve safety around our schools as a priority and encourage motorists to familiarise themselves and comply with the restrictions that have been introduced. Our aim is to keep children and pedestrians as safe as possible and we will be looking to roll out further school street prohibition of driving restrictions across the borough “
The local enforcement activity will begin in September 2023, with enforcement of school street prohibition of driving restrictions at the following locations:
School street prohibition of driving:
- Brownhills West Primary, Shannon Drive (school side from the main Shannon Drive junction)
- Manor Primary, Briar Avenue (school side from Hawthorn Road junction)
- Pool Hayes Primary, Bridgnorth Grove
- Whetstone Field Primary, Beaufort Way
- Palfrey Junior School, Dale Street (between Cobden Street and Sun Street)
- Holy Trinity Primary, Clayhanger Church Street (from Bridge Street / Clayhanger Lane to High Street)
- Lodge Farm Primary, Pineneedle Croft
- Pinfold Street Primary Pinfold Street Extension (school side from Wolverhampton Street junction)
- Old Church Primary, Alma Street and School Street
- County Bridge Primary, Anson Road and Hopyard Road (from Anson Road to King Charles Avenue)
Further enforcement activity will commence as the year progresses at the following locations:
Prohibited turns:
- Hatherton Road into Lichfield Street, Walsall, banned right turn
- High Street into Victoria Avenue, Bloxwich, banned right turn
Prohibition of driving:
- Market Place / Wolverhampton Street / Stafford Street (Willenhall Town Centre)
- Park Street / Station Street / Gallery Square / The Bridge / Digbeth / Lower Hall Lane / High Street (Walsall town centre)
Yellow box junctions:
- Littleton Street West at New College Way and Wisemore
- Littleton Street West at Stafford Street
Further notice will be provided in advance of the council undertaking enforcement of the prohibited turns, prohibition of driving and yellow box junctions listed above.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Read more about why the law is changing here
Learn more about The Civil Enforcement of Moving Traffic Contraventions Designation Order 2023
Learn more about Moving Traffic Contraventions within the Traffic Management Act 2004
Any income generated from enforcement must only be used to offset the cost of enforcement, meeting the cost of providing passenger transport service, environmental improvement schemes or highway improvement projects.
