Drivers slapped with 5,000 motoring fines as council uses CCTV car to target bad parking

More than 5,000 drivers have been caught breaking road rules and parking illegally within months of a major council launching a car equipped with CCTV cameras.

Leicester City Council has confirmed that 5,229 fixed penalty notices have been issued by the camera enforcement vehicle between April 1 and July 31.

The vehicle is equipped with an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera in a bid to slash the rate of dangerous parking incidents.

Specific areas are targeted by the so-called "CCTV car", including red routes, zig-zag markings outside of schools and bus stop clearways.

Motorists found to be breaking parking rules around the city have been issued with a £70 fixed penalty notice.

The council confirmed that thousands of vehicles have already been issued with a notice, adding that it was in the process of procuring a second camera-equipped vehicle.

In total, Leicester City Council spent £57,000 on the vehicle and its upgrades, which will be funded by income generated from fines.

Money from fixed penalty notices will also be used to pay for the ongoing maintenance of the vehicle, the council confirmed.

A spokesperson said: "The new car has made our local roads noticeably safer and more compliant, especially the red routes around the inner-city centre.

"The existing car has been an efficient tool, directly helping us tackle illegal parking across the city.

"In addition to the city's red route corridors, the car can also enforce against cars parked on school keep clear markings and in bus stop clearways."

Councillor Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for Environment and Transport at Leicester City Council, said the authority had a duty to tackle dangerous parking.

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The Labour councillor for Knighton highlighted how councils were given additional powers to enforce parking restrictions by CCTV, especially in areas where problems are likely.

He added: "As part of this, we are introducing a new CCTV-equipped car to penalise and help address illegal parking in areas where there are persistent issues but no fixed camera enforcement.

"We know that camera enforcement can be a very effective deterrent.

"We want to get the message across that parking without consideration for others, especially in areas where there are lots of children and busy traffic, will not be tolerated."