‘Spy car’ fines fall 18 per cent in year (From Basildon Recorder)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECHONEWS to 80360, or email us »
‘Spy car’ fines fall 18 per cent in year
11:00am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News
On patrol – the mobile enforecement vehicle on the streets of Basildon
THE Basildon “spy car” raked in almost £84,000 in parking fines in the past 12 months, down more than 18 per cent on the previous year.
South Essex Parking Part- nership figures show the mobile enforcement vehicle caught 3,024 people in the past year, bringing in £83,806 in fines.
This compares with the 12 months to September 2010, when £118,171 was raised, and £102,930 in the next year.
It is believed the reduction in fines has come about as drivers are now more aware of the tough stand against illegal parking.
The parking partnership took control of the car in April 2011 from Basildon Council.
The distinctive white Toyota, dubbed “the Beast of Basildon”, was introduced in September 2009 and is fitted with a camera.
Its video evidence leads to £60 fines for motorists caught parking on double yellow lines or in other places they shouldn’t be.
The parking partnership, which was set up in April 2011, said the money collected in fines was used for the continued running of the partnership and parking schemes in Basildon.
John Dornan, Basildon coun- cillor responsible for the environment, said he thought this type of parking enforcement brought better results.
He said: “I fully support this process. There is an appeal process for people who believe they are harshly caught. It is a lot of money, but what I find most surprising is people are still parking where they shouldn’t.”
The total revenue from on-street parking fines across the whole of south Essex between August 2011 and September 2012 was £800,564.
This was down a quarter from £1,068,257 in the previous year.
Comments(5)
shallotman
says...
1:58pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Blind Haze
says...
2:53pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Eric Whim wrote:Surely they'll keep it going as we've been told before it's meant as a deterrent rather than a money making exercise.....
THE Basildon “spy car” raked in almost £84,000'raked in' - strange turn of phrase to describe the amount of fines when we are constantly told it's not a revenue making exercise. Still, it shows that people parking in the town's area are taking notice and not breaching regulations quite as often as they were. If things carry on like this long enough they'll have to scrap the scheme as it won't be economically viable.
billericay boy
says...
5:23pm Tue 11 Sep 12
aduksquack
says...
5:28pm Tue 11 Sep 12
shallotman wrote:What poor motorists? I only see selfish lazy people who park illegally being fined. That's ok with me.
Just have to find other ways to rip off the poor motorist.
Eric Whim says...
12:57pm Tue 11 Sep 12
'raked in' - strange turn of phrase to describe the amount of fines when we are constantly told it's not a revenue making exercise.
Still, it shows that people parking in the town's area are taking notice and not breaching regulations quite as often as they were.
If things carry on like this long enough they'll have to scrap the scheme as it won't be economically viable.