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The London Olympics were a great success and will hopefully leave a positive sporting legacy for the country.
However, one legacy of the Games that is not so welcome is the £300,000 in fines issued to drivers who incorrectly used the temporary Olympic Games Lanes during the event.
The fines, which amounted to 2,400 individual tickets, provide a prime example of how new, and sometimes unclear, rules and regulation can catch out unsuspecting drivers.
Even with all of the publicity surrounding the Games Lanes, they were still confusing to many but strictly enforced.
And the enforcement of fines may be about to tighten further as local authorities (which already have the power to fine motorists for illegal parking) could also be given the power to fine drivers for a range of 'moving traffic offences'.
Most of the offences would be enforced by number plate recognition cameras, but traffic wardens may also play a role.
The Department for Transport is currently in discussions with around 20 councils that want the right to fine drivers who commit offences including making illegal turns, straying into yellow boxes or driving in bus and cycle lanes.
It is absolutely right and just that drivers blatantly disregarding the rules should be punished and that enforcement should be swift and strict.
However, with fines in general I have two major concerns; the first is that they can be confusing. The rules seem to be growing more complex and inconsistent across the country making it really easy to be caught when not intentionally breaking them.
My second concern, is that drivers are becoming an easy target for government to generate much needed funds.
It sometimes feels like the driver has become the scapegoat in hard times which means that they are treated in an over-zealous way.
Unfortunately, whatever we think of the current regime, there's nothing that we can do about it. My advice to drivers is that all fines are avoidable and by staying alert and avoiding risks there's no need to get caught.
However, these days you really must keep your wits about you or you risk being stung.
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