MOTORISTS who flout bus lane regulations have been targeted in the next Gateway anti-crime drive in Nottingham today.
Traffic, using two busy main roads in the city, both with bus lanes, were monitored by police officers on Monday, August 14 in this, the tenth, Gateway operation to be held so far this year.
Both in-bound and out-bound traffic along the two routes were to be watched as part of the effort to improve the flow of Nottingham’s buses and send out a ‘zero tolerance’ message to motorists who think it’s still acceptable to drive in the city’s 20km network of bus lanes.
Police warn that motorists caught using bus lanes when they shouldn’t be will be issued with fixed penalty fines.
Officers, led by Nottingham’s public transport beat manager PC Derek Pickering, also be boarded buses to check for forged bus passes, fare-dodgers and to prevent incidents of anti-social behaviour.
The Gateway operation was being held as part of the Respect for Transport campaign, which aims to increase use of public transport in Nottingham by reducing actual and perceived levels of crime and disorder on trams and buses.
Gateways are also held to provide reassurance to transport staff and the majority of law-abiding passengers.
By next year, it is hoped that Nottingham City Council will also be able to enforce correct use of bus lanes through new powers granted to it in the Transport Act 2000. For motorists who continue to block bus lanes, that will mean fixed penalty notices of £60.
Respect for Transport is backed by Nottinghamshire police, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham City Transport, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham Express Transit, JC Decaux, British Transport Police and Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership’s The Big Wheel.
Further Gateway operations will be held throughout 2006
|
