Council's 'cash cam' has raked in £300,000 in fines in just TWO months
A council has made a whopping £300k in fines from a controversial new bus lane camera in just two-and-a-half-months.
The 'cash cam' on Dereham Road, in Norwich, Norfolk, has already caught more than 10k drivers in a little over ten weeks.
This has triggered more fines for motorists in the short space of time than last year's tally from all the other city bus lane cameras combined.
The large number of drivers caught on the camera has sparked a row over whether the new installation is solving a problem or causing one.
Motoring organisation the RAC called for Norfolk County Council to carry out a review of the camera, while some drivers say signs and road markings are not clear enough.
But council officials ruled out any review and said the high number of fines demonstrates how enforcement of the bus lane, which has been there for more than 15 years, was needed.
A council spokesman said: 'It is usual to have a spike at the start of when an enforcement camera goes live and although the numbers were higher than we expected to begin with, we always anticipated the rate would slow, which we have now seen.
'This indicates the decision to enforce at this location is justified, as it clearly shows there has been an issue of non-compliance, which we are tackling to ensure the network is kept moving and safe for all users.'
One motorist caught by the camera said: 'The lines which should clearly be visible to show the end of the bus lane, with arrows showing you can come over, are practically none existing.
'This is nothing but a cash cam placed at the most unclear white lines markings.'
RAC head of policy Simon Williams urged the council to carry out a review.
He said: 'Most drivers don't set out to get fined by driving in a bus lane, so when cameras generate frightening sums of money it's usually because the signage isn't clear enough.
'While the signage may meet the recommended government guidance, the fact so many drivers are being caught out implies it isn't as good as it could be.
'We urge Norfolk County Council to be fair on drivers by investigating the cause and taking any necessary action.'
The council has said the camera has been correctly implemented and says unsuccessful appeals confirm that.
The council says the money raised from fines is used to 'offset the costs of running the enforcement service, with any surplus reinvested into highways and transport services in Norfolk'.
The new camera has surpassed the tally from all the other city bus lane cameras combined
In 2024, bus lanes were revealed to be a 'huge money spinner' for local councils, making up to £80 million a year.
According to the data £50 million was made in London alone while motorists in other major British cities were also hit hard in 2022-2023.
AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: 'Bus lanes are a huge money-spinner for many local authorities that enforce them. The cameras that monitor them haul in fines on an industrial scale.'
AA analysis of Department for Transport statistics shows English local authorities generated a combined £127.3 million in revenue from fining motorists for driving in bus lanes when not allowed during the 2022/23 financial year.
Taking £47.7 million of costs into account, this resulted in a total surplus of £79.6 million.
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