A West Midlands council has confirmed that it will continue to use vehicles equipped with camera technology to crack down on drivers parking dangerously.
City of Wolverhampton Council has announced that mobile enforcement vehicles will be deployed near schools to keep zones clear of irresponsible parking.
The vehicles are equipped with camera technology that automatically capture evidence of drivers ignoring “keep clear” zones outside schools.
Council camera cars patrol during the school run in the mornings, alongside enforcement officers who operate on foot.
When a vehicle is identified by the camera technology as breaking the rules, a fine can be sent to the registered owner of the car.
Vehicles are equipped with an intelligent enforcement system that uses GPS to identify where parking restrictions begin and end.
Video footage is captured and sent to an independent officer, who can confirm a breach of parking rules and issue a fine.
City of Wolverhampton Council first rolled out a mobile enforcement vehicle in 2025, before adding a second at the start of this year.
A new camera enforcement car will operate on certain streets in Wolverhampton to tackle poor parking | CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL
In the space of just two years, the camera vehicles have issued more than 1,200 penalty charge notices.
All income raised from the penalties can only be used for specified transport-related purposes in the local area.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Transport, praised the use of camera technology to keep roads safe.
He said: “There can be no compromise when it comes to children’s safety and our enforcement vehicles and foot patrols are helping us tackle motorists who continue to flout waiting restrictions around schools.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Transport, with the council’s Mobile Enforcement Vehicles | CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL
“We strongly encourage people to be more considerate when dropping off or collecting children from school and avoid creating a danger for others crossing nearby.”
The council’s enforcement work supports Safer Routes to School to protect children and other pedestrians during busier periods outside of schools.
Measures have also been implemented by the council, including zebra crossings, speed bumps, improved signage and “keep clear” zones.
Any incidents captured by the vehicle that involve serious threats or aggressive behaviour towards enforcement officers will be formally reported.
Numerous councils have started rolling out CCTV-equipped cars
|
LEICESTER CITY COUNCILDrivers can also report nuisance parking in school zones or at bus stops using the council’s Contact Parking Services form on its website.
Commenting previously on the mobile enforcement vehicles, Councillor Qaiser Azeem, Cabinet Member for Transport at City of Wolverhampton Council, said it would also crack down on passengers using bus services.
He added: “The council has a duty to tackle dangerous parking, and this backs up our work through initiatives like Safer Routes to School to ensure streets are kept free from vehicles parking dangerously.
“Creating a safer environment will in turn encourage more families to leave the car at home and walk or cycle to school, improving healthy lifestyles, cutting carbon emissions and improving air quality.”