Moving traffic enforcement FAQ

Reading Borough Council are applying to take on these enforcement powers to improve Reading’s road network. Thames Valley Police currently enforce moving traffic offences in Reading, and this will allow them to focus on other policing priorities. Each site to be enforced by Reading Borough Council must help achieve at least one of the following objectives:

• improve road safety
• tackle network congestion
• increase public transport reliability
• improve air quality
• increase lifespan of highway assets

Reading Borough Council will take a consistent and measured approach to enforcement, using cameras at sites where it has been identified there is an absolute need.

There will be a robust decision-making process in place to ensure that each site is chosen on the merits of how it will improve the area if traffic contraventions are enforced. For example, this could be judged on the accident record at a junction with the aim of reducing collisions or at proven congested areas resulting in a positive impact on the efficiency of the bus network and emergency services on Reading’s roads.

Introducing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and issuing Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)  is not going to be the standard approach for all locations.  It will only be installed at locations where it has been proved there is an absolute need.

It is envisaged that this enforcement will be rolled out to more sites from 2023 onwards, but only at locations where it has been proved there is an absolute need.

Making money is not an aim of enforcing moving traffic offences. We are applying for these powers to make a difference to the highway network, and not as a source of financial income.

We hope that better enforcement will help improve the compliance at these sites to make the necessary safety, congestion, and public transport improvements. As compliance improves, the number of Penalty Charge Notices will hopefully fall.

Should there be any money left over once the operational costs have been met, this will be used for highway improvement projects in line with strict government guidance. This funding will only be granted to projects that that help achieve one of the following objectives:

• improve road safety
• tackle network congestion
• increase public transport reliability
• improve air quality
• increase lifespan of highway assets

The start date is dependent on the legislation and the parliamentary timeline. It is estimated that the enforcement powers will come into effect towards the end of 2022/early 2023.  When Reading Borough Council is ready to begin enforcing this will be widely publicised and warning notices will be issued for first time offences for a period of six months following the ‘go live’ date.

The government have issued guidelines that regulate how Council’s must enforce moving traffic offences.  Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at the sites to be enforced and Penalty Charge Notices (PCN’s) will be issued via post to the Registered Keeper of the vehicle (in the same way bus lane camera’s currently operate).

When a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is issued to the Registered Keeper there will be details on how a challenge can be made.  As with parking PCN’s this must be in writing and within the timescales set out on the PCN.  For the first six months of operation Warning Notices will be sent for first time offences.