Dartford motorists could be monitored by mobile CCTV vehicles (From News Shopper)

Dartford motorists could be monitored by mobile CCTV vehicles

12:56pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Alan Woods

MOBILE CCTV vehicles may be rolled out in Dartford to capture motorists committing driving offences.

Dartford Council’s cabinet will consider proposals on Thursday to introduce an enforcement vehicle kitted out with a 360-degree pan tilt camera.

Footage captured from the camera will then be reviewed as evidence by the council’s parking services department before a PCN is sent in the post to the vehicle’s driver.

The state-of-the-art vehicle - if given the go ahead - will used to particularly target drivers contravening parking restrictions close to the borough’s schools.

It will also be used to combat drivers who park within the pedestrian area of the town centre for more than five minutes.

Three automatic number plate recognition cameras on board will clock when the vehicle enters the zone and when it leaves, with the third identifying how long it remains stationary for.

The council estimates the total cost of the new vehicle, software and extra staffing would be in the region of £50,000.

In order to breakeven, approximately 90 parking tickets will need to be issued to drivers every week.

A vehicle equipped with a CCTV camera is already owned by Dartford Council but it is described as only a “limited deterrent,” boasting only basic equipment.