Bus lane camera car out to nab motorists

ROAD chiefs say over 1,200 drivers were caught in the first week of a new crackdown on the illegal use of Belfast bus lanes.

The have revealed that around 200 drivers on average a day were caught.

The crackdown began on Monday, June 22 with the introduction of six new bus lane cameras in the city centre and a mobile detection unit.

Since then, a total of 1,273 drivers have been caught.

The minimum fine is £45 which could net government coffers of £50,000 for a week.

The fixed cameras are positioned at:

• Great Victoria Street, near the Europa Hotel
• College Square East, near Belfast Inst school
• East Bridge Street, near Central Station
• Castle Place, near Royal Avenue
• Belfast City Hall, where two cameras are in place

The mobile detection unit is monitoring main roads into the city including the Shore Road, Lisburn Road and Ormeau Road.

Anyone caught breaching bus lane rules is fined £90, but the total is reduced to £45 if paid within two weeks.

A spokesperson for the department for regional development said 1273 penalty charge notices (PCNs) had been issued to motorists for driving in bus lanes or bus-only streets in the week commencing 22 June.

“Drivers are entitled to challenge their PCN through the process detailed on the back of all PCNs,” the spokesperson added.