CCTV Spy Cars on Lordship Lane

[bobbsy]

This morning, and yesterday morning, whilst travelling north on Lordship lane around 7.45am, have noticed two Southwark CCTV spy cars parked up on the south travelling side of the main commercial area, about 100m apart, (circa the old sorsi & morsi) with camera poles fully extended.

I thought that now the Deregulation Bill limited the use of CCTV to issue tickets to critical routes such as near schools, bus lanes, bus stops and red routes where public transport must be kept moving for safety reasons. It really annoys me to see these cars on the road.

[Pickle]

I think they monitor the bus Lane, which has to be kept clear of parked cars until 10am.

[kford]

What annoys me is that they sit there parked with their engines running, for up to two hours.

[Mustard]

Can they tell if people are now speeding in the 20mph zones?

[Ruskin]

If they're there to monitor bus lane misuse, then I say go get 'em. In fact, if they want more business, simply go to the Sainsburys left turn on Dog Kennel. Plenty of queuejumpers who can't wait to get in to the trolley track.

*Puts on tiin hat and takes cover*

[ed_pete]

Funny definition of spying...

[uncleglen]

kford says...'engines running, for up to two hours'- they don't have to pay for their own petrol obviously...or even worse, diesel. Not to mention the extra pollution..

[bobbsy]

ed_pete, I don't agree with the CCTV cars, and I nickname them spy cars. Per Ruskin above, I do agree that bus-lanes need to be kept clear, but would prefer obvious enforcement with tickets written and placed at the time of the offence rather than stealth enforcement with infringement notices through the mail at a later date.

[BrandNewGuy]

If you don't want the fine, keep out of the bus lane. I can't see how it can be more simple. As a bus user (and car driver), I'm all for measures to keep selfish idiots out of bus lanes.

[Jennys]

If they have their engines running I think you can report them, especially since pollution levels - as you will be aware - are very high at the moment.

[edcam]

I agree with BrandNewGuy - if you don't want a fine/ticket, don't break the rules. I have broken them on occasion and only have myself to blame.

There are a lot of threads/posts on this forum where people whinge (not the OP, I hasten to add) about getting tickets when they clearly deserved them. I don't know what it is about people that make them think they are above this sort of thing.

Sitting with the engine running is a no-no though.

[Jennys]

Perhaps I should have made it clear that I do not condone drivers "breaking the rules" either. As someone who uses buses far more than the car I don't have any sympathy with people illegally parking in the bus lane.

[ruffers]

bobbsy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ed_pete, I don't agree with the CCTV cars, and I

> nickname them spy cars. Per Ruskin above, I do

> agree that bus-lanes need to be kept clear, but

> would prefer obvious enforcement with tickets

> written and placed at the time of the offence

> rather than stealth enforcement with infringement

> notices through the mail at a later date.

Why?

[Sarieg]

The levels of pollution on LSL are already too high. These CCTV cars should be reported put in a diary on this site and I am prepared to send a complaint the appropriate body. Please all keep a record of lisense plate and time and place. It might also be a good idea to photograph them.

Thanks

Lordship Lane is meandering which is why they don't put a camera. Idling is something I shall write to Southwark Council about but I need your help in spotting them and sending me the details. This would prohibit them but we need evidence. Thanks! Sarah

[Saffron]

ruffers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> bobbsy Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > ed_pete, I don't agree with the CCTV cars, and

> I

> > nickname them spy cars. Per Ruskin above, I do

> > agree that bus-lanes need to be kept clear, but

> > would prefer obvious enforcement with tickets

> > written and placed at the time of the offence

> > rather than stealth enforcement with

> infringement

> > notices through the mail at a later date.

>

> Why?

Because real people can exercise discretion and interact with actual other real people?

[bobbsy]

By the way, this wasn't a thread agreeing or disagreeing with policing bus lanes. This was a thread about CCTV cars.

As an aside, and perhaps to explain my annoyance with these cars - I had a ticket through the post from a CCTV car, for parking in my driveway with the nose of the car protruding across some of the footpath as I was unloading the boot of the car (something I didn't realise was illegal). I was "obstructing the footpath" or some such description. I thought it was a bit out of order as I live on a quiet street and don't think anyone was obstructed for the 10 or 15 minutes I was parked that way, and it arrived by mail weeks later. I would have preferred a parking inspector to politely say something like "excuse me sir, it is illegal to obstruct the footpath, would you mind placing your car more thoughtfully" rather than feel like an easy revenue target for Southwark Council.

I don't think the cars are policing the bus lanes - I think they are looking for any parking violation they can find. I might be wrong.

[bobbsy]

And ruffers, as Saffron wrote above.

[kford]

From Southwark's Draft Air Quality Strategy and Action Plan:

Measure 4: Southwark will, undertake enforcement on idling

engines at hotspots within the borough.

"Vehicle engines left idling when parked contributes to pollution, there is law that makes this an offence but

has rarely been enforced. We will start enforcing this law to tackle this unnecessary form of pollution."

I know where to start.

[stevie23b]

why not just have a camera stuck on a lamp post to cover bus lanes?

[Sarieg]

Lordship Lane is meandering which is why they don't put a camera. Idling is something I shall write to Southwark Council about but I need your help in spotting them and sending me the details. This would prohibit them but we need evidence. Thanks! Sarah

[MissMadMoo]

kford Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> From Southwark's Draft Air Quality Strategy and

> Action Plan:

>

> Measure 4: Southwark will, undertake enforcement

> on idling

> engines at hotspots within the borough.

>

> "Vehicle engines left idling when parked

> contributes to pollution, there is law that makes

> this an offence but

> has rarely been enforced. We will start enforcing

> this law to tackle this unnecessary form of

> pollution."

>

> I know where to start.

-------------------------------------------------------

Digressing slightly now, but Interesting point.

On a daily basis there are usually 5 or so police cars left unattended with engines ticking over outside Lambeth Police station. I just don't understand why they are left like this...

[Earl Aelfheah]

stevie23b Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> why not just have a camera stuck on a lamp post to

> cover bus lanes?

Or on the front of buses?

[kford]

They have cameras on poles all over London monitoring bus lanes. It's the usual way of issuing fines. There's one by Denmark Hill station, and one at the end of the bus lane by King's. They used to have them built into the front of buses, in the early 2000s, but they were too hard to maintain.

The camera cars are there mainly for parking fines, as they're operated by APCOA (Airport Parking Company Of America); they'll also issue fines for bus lanes and box junction violations.

rahrahrah Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> stevie23b Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > why not just have a camera stuck on a lamp post

> to

> > cover bus lanes?

>

> Or on the front of buses?

[redpost]

they must leave the engine running to power the camera kit, ditto for police cars: radio, computer, ANPR etc

[dimples]

There is a fast response ambulance car that often is parked in Peckham rye car park with its engine running for ages and ages which has always annoyed me but unfairly now reading you post before maybe they need to keep it running ?