Hundreds of drivers caught in new sting on Wolverhampton bus lane motorists
Almost 700 people were caught driving in Wolverhampton bus lanes in just one day.
They were snapped on the first day the city's new bus lane cameras were turned on - and would have brought in fines of £40,920 were it not for an initial grace period.
The new cameras are in five busy streets and came into force on Monday, which saw a total of 682 drivers caught and sent a warning letter.
However, over the next two weeks, fines of £60 will be brought in
Regeneration chief Councillor Peter Bilson, said: "Bus lanes exist to encourage public transport by improving reliability and reducing congestion.
"In common with many other towns and cities, we have introduced cameras to deal with the problem of drivers using bus lanes when they shouldn't be.
"A total of 682 vehicles were found to be incorrectly using the bus lanes on the first day of enforcement on Monday, and drivers will shortly receive a warning notice reminding them of the regulations. The bus lanes - and the fact that they are now being enforced - are clearly marked and so we expect this figure to fall over the next few days.
"People who obey the law and don't drive in bus lanes when they shouldn't have nothing to worry about. However over the next two weeks we will begin issuing £60 penalty charge notices to drivers who ignore the restrictions."
The council is taking over control of the bus lanes from West Midlands Police.
Willenhall Road, Stafford Street, Wolverhampton Road, Wednesfield Road and Cleveland Street are the first five streets to see the enforcement action, with more to follow in later months.
The fines are reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days. It is believed up to £250,000 could be raised from the penalties in the first year alone.
The local authority said the bus lanes had been 'inconsistently' policed due to priorities lying elsewhere, leading to drivers blatantly disregarding the law.
The cameras are both inbound and outbound on Willenhall Road and heading out of the city on Stafford Road between Red Hill Street Clinic and Five Ways Island
On Wolverhampton Road, the cameras watch cars coming in and out of the city, as well as inbound on Wednesfield Road where it links with Wolverhampton Road.
