500 fines handed out since CCTV 'camera car' hit Sandwell's streets

The camera car was brought in as part of a crack down on roads around the borough's 120 schools.

Since the start of October, it has been patrolling the streets capturing images of vehicles flouting the rules.

As well as nuisance parking around schools, it's been used to catch people illegally parking or stopping at bus stops, along Red Routes, on pedestrian crossings and accompanying zig-zag lines.

A total of 484 fines of £70 have been given out to motorists since the campaign started, the council has revealed.

The car is fitted with CCTV camera equipment which uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology.

Councillor Maria Crompton, cabinet member for highways and environment, said people had been fined for a number of reasons.

"There have been penalty charge notices served for parking on school zigzags, bus stops, red routes and pedestrian crossings," she said.

The car is fitted with CCTV camera equipment which uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology.

Council leader Darren Cooper said the scheme, which has cost the cost around £45,000, was important to help reduce illegal parking and improve safety around schools. It's hoped the presence of the camera car itself will also deter motorists from parking where they shouldn't.

"Every single day so many people up and down Sandwell, and the whole country, seem to lose any sense of road safety and park on the zig zag lines outside schools," he said.

"This is why we've brought in our new camera car," he added.

The car was introduced into areas that have been hotspots for complaints following a trial last year which the council said was well-received by residents, staff and parents when the vehicle was spotted around schools.

The camera that is fitted to the vehicle cost around £35,000 and the equipment to operate it around £6,000. Annual maintenance of the camera and equipment is around £4,000.

It is not the only way the council is using CCTV cameras in the borough.

They have also been brought in to help reduce anti-social behaviour Soho and Victoria and Princes End.

The council received £17,000 from the Police and Crime Commissioner's Invest to Save scheme,

Wolverhampton City Council has been using a CCTV car to catch drivers parking outside the city's schools since November 2012 with officials saying it helps make the roads safer for children going to school.