Motorists who park illegally won’t outsmart camera car

7:44am Saturday 10th March 2007

Comments (2)   Have your say »

A high-tech car fitted with a CCTV camera on a periscope will be used to spot motorists who park irresponsibly.

The specially modified Smart car will be trialled in Richmond for two months from April and motorists caught flouting the rules will be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

The car will be operated by trained staff and fitted with analogue and digital CCTV recording and monitoring equipment.

It will target known hot spots, homing in on motorists parking on pavements and illegally parking around schools and pedestrian crossings.

It will also enforce traffic and parking restrictions on rugby match days around Twickenham Stadium.

The cars are already being used by councils in Westminster, Enfield, Camden and Islington and have proved effective in improving pedestrian safety and reducing traffic accidents and congestion.

Councillor David Trigg, cabinet member for traffic, transport and parking, said: "Indiscriminate parking around schools and pedestrian crossings is highly irresponsible and poses a real danger to pedestrians.

"This new technology will enable us to focus on problem areas quickly and efficiently, in a way that parking attendants are unable to do.

"The car is also visually distinctive and I hope it will prove an effective deterrent to motorists.

"Similar vehicles have been successful in other London boroughs and this trial will determine how well it works in Richmond."

• What do you think of the 'spy' car? Post your comments below.