New Speed Cameras To Rake In Cash For Councils

Published Date: 25th Sep 2013

Council’s are being accused of using new state-of-the-art speed cameras as a quick money making scheme.

The new ZenGrab Lanewatch Mk2 cameras that cost £17,000 each are equipped with two lenses and night vision and are capable of catching 50 times more motorists breaking speed limits and other road traffic laws. In tests the new cameras caught more than 1000 motorists breaking speed limits and committing other traffic offences compared with just 271 caught on the traditional gatso cameras.

Council’s across the country are investing in the new ZenGrab cameras in anticipation of new laws which will allow cameras to be used to fine  motorists for a wider range of driving offences.

Recently transport minister Norman Baker sent a chill down the spine of motorists when he said councils will have the power in the future to fine drivers making illegal u-turns and right turns, entering roads with no-entry signs or stopping in yellow box areas. London councils already have a wider range of powers but the government is looking at handing the same powers to councils across the country.

With councils keen to acquire the new speed cameras Manchester has already installed 15 ZenGrab cameras with both Glasgow and Medway in Kent already using them and Nottingham are in the process of acquiring the cameras too.

Within the motoring industry there has been strong concern expressed with organisations like the AA branding them immoral, whilst others have branded them money spinners and claim councils are using unsuspecting motorists as cash cows. Local councils are thought by many to be making more than enough from motorists with over £500 million in revenue accumlated from parking tickets and fines across the country in the last year.