Drivers in Wolverhampton bus lanes run risk of £70 fine

Five of the city's major routes will have cameras installed if the plans, which were first mooted in February in a round of crippling council budget cuts, are approved next week.

Cleveland Street, Stafford Street, Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton Road and Willenhall Road are the five bus lanes chosen, from the 22 the city currently has.

And motorists will have to be careful if they're to avoid being hit in the pocket – in a recent sample of the five roads, 240 flouted the bus lane rules in just 12 hours.

Penalty charge notices of £70 would be issued to any motorists driving in bus lanes, which would increase to £105 if not paid with 28 days, or halved to £35 if paid within 21 days.

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Around £165,000 will be spent installing the system – but chiefs hope to make £250,000 in fines in the first year alone.

Bosses insisted they were not looking to 'catch anyone out' by introducing the cameras.

They will be brought in across the city in phases, with the first five installed by next April if the plans are approved.

It will see the local authority take over responsibility for bus lane enforcement from the police.

Any surplus cash raised by fines will be used to improve the city's roads and public transport, the council said.

A report to councillors states that competing pressures and priorities on police time have led to inconsistent enforcement of bus lanes, with the result being that many motorists now have blatant disregard for the law.

Regeneration chief Councillor Peter Bilson said: "Bus lanes are there to encourage public transport by improving reliability and reducing congestion.

"It is clear from the monitoring we have done - and people will have seen this with their own eyes - a considerable number of motorists have a blatant disregard for the law and drive in bus lanes.

"In common with many other towns and cities across the country, we are now looking to takeover bus lane enforcement from the police and use cameras which are able to automatically read vehicle registration numbers to deal with this problem.

"We aren't looking to catch anyone out. We will be making people very aware that the cameras are being introduced and publicise the fact before they go live.

"Any money raised over and above the costs of introducing the scheme will be invested back into Wolverhampton's roads. As long as people obey the law and don't drive in bus lanes, they have nothing at all to worry about."

Walsall introduced bus lane cameras in 2013 and made £500,000 from 18,407 fines.