Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras are now being installed at multiple locations in Liverpool in a council clampdown on poor driving. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool City Council is targeting bad drivers using newly-installed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at multiple locations

In November 2022 LBN reported the authority was seeking new traffic enforcement powers under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act (2004). These allow councils to penalise poor driving habits. Previously only the police had these powers.

Now the Department of Transport has approved the measures which means ANPR cameras are now being installed at various locations in Liverpool. 

Enforcement cameras went live in November on Lime Street and Ranelagh Place in the city centre. Warning notices were issued for first-time offenders. More than 8,500 notices have been issued.

This second phase is seeing cameras installed at St Annes Street outside the fire station – yellow box junction, Whitechapel at Crosshall Street – yellow box junction, and outside two primary schools – Greenbank and Much Woolton.

A camera is also in place at Watergate Lane at Woodrock Road and is set to go live in early February.

‘School streets’ are pedestrian and cycle zones which operate Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 9.00am and 2.30pm to 3.40pm and do not allow vehicle access, with exceptions including those with blue badges, those loading or those who are valid permit holders.

A camera is also in place at Lime Street between Skelhorne Street and St George’s Place to enforce the bus-only route. These cameras are set to go live in February.

And an ANPR camera is also in place on Ranelagh Street to enforce the bus-gate regulations there.

Although fines will not be immediately issued in line with DfT guidelines. A six-month grace period will be observed so first-time offenders will receive a warning notice of the restrictions after which repeat offenders will receive a fine.

Examples of the type of moving traffic offences that can be enforced under the new powers include:

• Undertaking banned turns.
• Driving through a ‘No Entry’ sign.
• Driving in a route permitted for buses and taxis only.
• Driving through a school street, pedestrian and cycle zone.
• Entering a yellow box junction when the exit is not clear.

Cllr Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “These new powers to enforce moving traffic contraventions are a key part of a wider programme to improve road safety across the city.

“These new ANPR cameras will enable us to enforce the Highway Code and improve behaviours at key junctions, in both the city centre and near to our schools.

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“Our overall aim is to educate people to be more patient behind the wheel, and ideally encourage people to think twice about using the car at all. Most car journeys in the city are under 5km, many of which could be done by alternative methods.

“That’s why as a council we’re supporting moves to improve public transport and why we’re investing millions of pounds in active travel infrastructure to make it easier and safer to walk and cycle more often.”