COUNCIL NOW HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR BUS LANE ENFORCEMENT
Bedford Borough Council took responsibility for enforcing the correct use of bus lanes in the borough from Monday 30th April.
The Police are responsible for the enforcement of the majority of traffic regulations where vehicles are moving, such as speeding or other forms of dangerous driving. However, authorised by current legislation, Bedford Borough Council is now enforcing bus lane contraventions through the issuing of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)
There are five bus lane areas in Bedford Borough; Greyfriars, Horne Lane, Ampthill Road, Kingsway and Bedford Road in Kempston.
Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport, said: "When we took the decision to extend the use of bus lanes to include taxis, private hire vehicles, bicycles and motorbikes we made clear that we would take action against those who used the bus lanes unlawfully.
"These inconsiderate drivers make roads unsafe and increase congestion.
"All bus lanes in Bedford Borough are clearly signposted and include clear markings on the road itself. There is no excuse for not realising you are driving illegally in a bus lane and it is right that we will take action to keep our roads safe for the majority of law abiding road users."
The enforcement of the bus lane will be carried out using wireless mobile cameras, which can be moved between different locations. The camera takes a recording of any unauthorised vehicle using the bus lane and this is then assessed by a civil enforcement who issues a postal penalty charge.