Cameras a flop as 90% of bus-lane culprits get off

Date: 15/03/2005
Source: news.scotsman.com
Author: Frank Urquhart

A CONTROVERSIAL spy camera system aimed at catching car drivers using bus-only lanes was branded a waste of time yesterday after it was revealed that only 10 per cent of law breakers had been issued with fines.

The cameras were installed by Aberdeen City Council last January. Motorists caught on camera using the lanes are liable to a fixed penalty of £30.

Police are responsible for identifying offences from tapes in eight cameras at congestion hot spots and for prosecuting offenders. But Colin Gibb, of the council’s traffic signal unit, says in a report to councillors that only a quarter of the cameras are operational at any one time and a mere 10 per cent of offenders have been issued with fines. He blames "constraints on police resources".

He says: "Discussions with Grampian Police have indicated that they would not anticipate being able to increase the staff resource assigned to bus lane enforcement in the foreseeable future and in fact consider it a burden on other priority duties."

Council officials are calling for an investigation into other options to improve the enforcement rate. These include either the council or a third party taking over enforcement responsibilities from the police.

Brian Adam, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen North, described the situation as farcical and called for the spy camera scheme to be completely scrapped.

He said: "This ... shows what a waste of time and money this scheme is, as the police obviously have far more important things to do with their time than catch those dodging into bus lanes."

A spokesman for Grampian Police said: "The police staff involved are members of the traffic department and their primary function has to be geared towards reducing road casualties.

"In this respect, it can easily be argued that it is extremely difficult to make any form of direct link between reducing road casualties and what could essentially be seen as simply reducing delays to buses."

For the council to take over enforcement duties, motorists’ use of bus lanes would have to be decriminalised and treated in the same way as parking offences. It would also require Scottish Executive approval.

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