Restricting the generation of surplus funds from traffic contraventions

In the Plan for Drivers, the Secretary of State for Transport announced action to address concerns about councils generating surpluses from issuing penalty charge notices (PCNs) for contraventions of moving traffic restrictions including:

• no entry
• no left or right turn
• prohibited vehicles
• unlawful entry into box junctions
• driving in mandatory cycle lanes 

These enforcement powers help free up police time while helping councils to reduce traffic congestion. However, enforcement should be undertaken proportionately and not used as a means to raise revenue.

This call for evidence aims to: 

• gather evidence of current practice to inform possible policy proposals 
• explore options for restricting a local authority’s ability to generate surpluses from traffic contraventions