FAQs

Moving traffic enforcement is a way of managing moving traffic behaviours by enforcing fines and penalty charge notices for motorists that breach the restrictions that are in place.

Examples of moving traffic contravention that can be enforced under the new powers include:

• undertaking banned turns
• driving through a ‘No Entry’ sign
• driving in a route permitted for buses and taxis only
• driving through a school street, pedestrian and cycle zone
• entering a yellow box junction when the exit is not clear

A full list of enforceable traffic signs can be viewed here.

Definition Moving Traffic Contraventions

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at the sites to be enforced, and Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) will be issued by post to the registered keeper of the vehicle.

In 2024 we trialled the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera technology to support the School Street Scheme at Greenleas Primary School, Wallasey. The aim was to improve the compliance with the school street and reduce the numbers of vehicles entering the school street zone during the time of operation helping to create a safer, happier and healthier school environment.

The Council have a duty  to make sure traffic moves freely and quickly on our roads and the roads of nearby authorities. By undertaking moving traffic enforcement, we are carrying out this duty. Our primary reasons for enforcing remain: 

• Make roads safer for those walking and cycling
• Reduce congestion
• Improve journey times
• Improve air quality, supporting our zero-carbon target
• Increased safety and cleaner air around schools – camera enforced school streets schemes are proven to have a positive effect
• Reallocation and saving of police time

It is important that we engage  residents on the new locations we wish to extend the powers to  enforce. It is important that we understand any issues or concerns at the specific locations, or any feedback of support.

A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued for Moving Traffic Contraventions.

The penalty will be £70, however, this will be reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

Following DfT (Department for Transport) guidelines, there will be a six-month warning notice period where no fines will be issued for first time non-compliance.

Central Government has said that “traffic enforcement must be aimed at increasing compliance and not raising revenue”. Surplus funding will need to be ringfenced, by the council, to spend on the following (as examples):

• Recoup cost of enforcement

• Public transport provision

• Highway improvement projects

• Environmental improvement

ANPR cameras will only operate during the set restricted hours and only record non-compliant vehicles. The cameras are in a fixed position pointing towards the entry to the restricted road and not used for any other purposes. Any captured data is only used for the purposes of pursuing a penalty for a moving traffic contravention. 

Data is stored securely, and only those people required to have access to the data for the purposes of processing the penalty will be given access. This is via permissions, passwords and authentication processes. Once a case has been closed the data is retained for a period of 2 years before being deleted. Staff who have this level of access receive regular cyber security training.

Enforcement of moving restrictions can be carried out by local authorities where they have taken on the powers to do so. Outside London, this is through regulations made under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. This allows local authorities to issue penalty charge notices (PCNs) to any non-exempt motor vehicles contravening moving restrictions, during their hours of operation.  

Although the police have powers to enforce, they would need to provide multiple daily resources to do so, and this is not operationally possible, given their other responsibilities. Therefore, now that the council has the powers to enforce also, compliance will likely increase dramatically. 

It is observed and increasingly reported to council officers that the vehicular access restrictions in Birkenhead Town Centre are being regularly abused and ignored causing frustrations and road safety issues for pedestrians wanting to safely shop in the town centre. Some motorists are driving through and parking within restricted areas, during business hours when the area is at its busiest. This is unacceptable and unsafe, and council officers have been urged to act to prevent this from occurring in future. 

ANPR technology is currently used at Greenleas Primary School to help enforce the School Street in operation there. Following its successful roll out, and approval at the council’s Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee in December 2025, the council are also now looking to introduce this technology at all other existing school streets schemes including Raeburn, Liscard, Christ Church CE, St Albans, and St George’s Primary Schools.