A “DESPERATE” council raked in £ 10, 000 in just one hour after catching out drivers with a new bus lane.
Cameras caught 177 furious drivers after rules were changed and new bus line fines brought in this morning.
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Between 7-8am the once key route of Sheepcote Street for commuters across Birmingham city was made bus-only with Birmingham city council bosses vowing on Facebook: “Cross the line, pay the fine.”
Angry motorists accused the council of not giving them enough warning and complained the new bus lane rules were poorly signposted.
They now face a £ 60 penalty charge – potentially putting £ 10, 620 into council coffers. The bus lane is set to operate 24 hours a day.
Last month it was revealed hundreds of people in UK cities are being stung by straying into bus lanes.
Cambridge County Council raked in more than £ 1.8million in fines in a year from March last year.
And in 2017 / 18 Reading drivers forked out nearly £ 3million for going into bus lanes, with Belfast motorists losing more than £ 4million in four years for the same offence.
Councils have been accused of using bus lane fines as cash cows, with former Transport Secretary Chris Grayling telling the AA in 2018 Government would look into exploitation concerns.
‘IT’S OUT OF ORDER’
One Birmingham motorist snapped in the bus lane today said: “It’s out of order. I’ve been coming this way for years and I had no idea it had changed.
“I only realized it was now a bus lane when I was actually on the road and saw the lettering on the tarmac.
“By then it was too late.
“Once you’re on there you don’t have a second chance.”
Sheepcote Street, at the back of the Arena Birmingham, was a popular way for motorists to access the city’s busy Broad Street.
But today drivers were greeted with the giant words Bus Lane painted in white lettering on to a bright red road surface.
To emphasize the message, Birmingham City Council last night posted on social media saying: ‘STARTS TOMORROW: Cross the line, pay the fine.’
DRIVERS BEWARE
A spokesman said: “Bus lanes keep our city moving, giving priority to buses so they can avoid congestion. This improves bus service reliability and reduces journey times.
“We are committed to improving public transport in Birmingham, reducing the number of cars on our roads and making the city’s air cleaner.”
Birmingham’s 18 miles of bus lanes and bus-only roads saw motorists coughing up £ 1. 36 million in fines during 2017 / 2018.
In 2018 there were 24 bus lane cameras operating in the city – compared with 12 in 2016 – and in the first three months of last year 2, 000 bus lane fines were per week on average.
Locals commenting on the council’s Facebook post were less than impressed with the new bus-only route.
Malcolm Donaldson wrote: “It’s got to the point where I shall just avoid driving to town with all these traps, because that’s what they are.”
Dave Erfani added: “It’s a joke. Totally designed to catch people out. ”
And Keith Ward commented: “Council is getting desperate now. They’ll step on anyone to get money. Watch your backs, people. ”
Last week we told how a dad was slapped with two £ 100 fines in two hours after asking for directions and filling up petrol.
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