Croydon council worried about insufficient income through ANPR violations - what?!

[Retro]

Councils are now brazenly open about scamming the public for money through ANPR cameras and fines for traffic violations, which they want the public to do. It's actually been like this for the last 20 years at least, but this is a really good, current example.

In a benign form of government, doing this would be illegal as the supposed "benefits" of the restrictions are just a pretext to justify it and reduce resistance to it. But alas, our governing bodies are corrupt at every level, so we get this garbage foisted on us. Oh and the restrictions benefit no-one but the council doing the scamming.

Just check out this quote to see what I mean:

At a recent council meeting, Steve Iles, Croydon’s director of public realm, said £11.8 million of “income growth particularly from camera enforcement” had been “built in” to its three-year budget forecast.

But Councillor Robert Canning expressed concern that the cash injection could be lost if motorists obey the rules.

He said: "Is there a risk that motorists will start complying with restrictions that apply, so the revenue that we are predicting for the next three years won't actually be obtained because motorists wise up to the restrictions and start complying? Is that something we need to worry about?"

Mr Iles conceded that “there is a risk of compliance”, but said civil servants had “factored” the “significant hike” in fines into their budget projections.

A risk of compliance? Are they for real?!

Be Shocked and Appalled(tm) here:

Council could be millions of pounds out of pocket if drivers ‘wise up’ about traffic cameras

A council declared bankrupt a year ago fears it will lose millions of pounds if motorists “wise up” about where they will be fined when driving in low traffic neighbourhoods.

uk.news.yahoo.com

 

[HEXdidnt]

Wow... This is insane. Fines are now considered to be a revenue stream?

That's so completely not the point of fines. They're intended as a deterrent, so categorically not a reliable source of income, let alone a source of growable income. They're treating it as another form of road tax...

Then again, having made this so plain, one would hope drivers are more inclined to "wise up" and "comply", just to stick it to these idiots.

I dread to think what their next best revenue stream is supposed to be.

 

[Retro]

Oh yes, it's total, abject corruption. That it can be done in full view and not be called out is very surprising.

The whole traffic and parking enforcement with parking charge notices (private) and fines (public) was a scam from the get-go.

 

[Retro]

This is worth reading for those who haven't seen this post. Nothing has changed over the last year.

 

[Arantor]

Oh wow. That's impressive.