Second CCTV car to hit the roads around Sandwell
Illegal parking and traffic offences will be in the sights of a second CCTV camera car getting ready to hit the roads in Sandwell.
The council’s first CCTV vehicle was brought three years ago and has proved a major success, according to bosses – who now want to further crackdown on driving offences – particularly nuisance parking near schools.
They hailed its ‘effective enforcement’ around the borough’s 80 schools. Now the council plans to spend £43,000 on a second car, which is expected to earn around £60,000 in fines in its first year.
As well as nuisance parking around schools, the cars are used to catch people illegally parking or stopping at bus stops, along red routes, on pedestrian crossings and accompanying zig-zag lines.
The cars are fitted with CCTV camera equipment which uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology.
Councillor Elaine Costigan, cabinet member for public health and protection, said introducing a second CCTV car would benefit the borough.
She said: “I think it’s a great idea – if it’s something that has been working and is catching people then that’s good news for Sandwell. If the council can afford to bring in another one that they can only be good for the borough.”
A council report states: “It is recommended that the second CCTV vehicle is provided in the same way for an initial outlay of £43,000 from Local Transport Plan capital funding with a first year income projection of around £60,000.”
The report says the first car has proved successful and positive with community members – with ward councillors frequently requesting it stops at specific schools to tackle traffic issues.
Both cars will patrol the borough’s 80 schools on a random rotation.
It states: “A CCTV vehicle was introduced in 2014 and has provided effective enforcement of red routes, bus stops and school entrance zig-zags.
"The vehicle is also seen as a deterrent to inconsiderate parking around schools.
"Ward councillors make regular requests for greater attendance of the vehicle at school start and finish times.
"There are around 80 schools where the CCTV vehicle is deployed on a random rotational basis. There is consequently an established need for an additional CCTV vehicle.”
