CIHT says Local Authorities should be granted civil enforcement powers for traffic offences.

CIHT have written to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Norman Baker MP, urging him to grant local authorities civil enforcement powers for traffic contraventions, as contained in part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Currently, the police are responsible for enforcing civil offences, such as prohibited turns and yellow-box junctions.

CIHT recognises that the police do not have the available resources to regularly enforce such offences and therefore support proposals for local authorities to be granted these powers.

CIHT believes that by granting Councils civil enforcement of traffic contraventions, it will ease the traffic on UK roads and will in turn boost economic growth.

John Smart, CIHT Director of Professional and Business Development said, “Small scale traffic management measures such as illegal turns, bus lanes and yellow boxes contribute to the effective delivery of managed road networks. Without a reasonable level of enforcement, these traffic measures cannot contribute to efficient road management and so we urge Government to consider granting local authorities these enforcement powers.”