'Spy car' to catch parents parking illegally outside school

Paul Britton.

November 03, 2009

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The Smart car which has been fitted with CCTV to catch parents who park illegally outside schools

A CAR fitted with a CCTV recording system is being used to combat parents who park illegally outside schools to pick up and drop off children.

The £50,000 Smart car has taken to the roads of Bolton and will monitor areas around schools.

It will mainly be used in town centre areas and to combat illegal parkers in streets where permits are needed.

The council however said it would be deployed to monitor 'keep clear' zones outside schools.

A spokesman said Bolton was the first local authority in Greater Manchester to use a car like it.

It is fitted with a 4 metre-high mast to capture offending motorists on film.

The car was unveiled in Bolton last month and has been gathering data on 'hot-spot' areas ever since.

The council said it had been monitoring loading bays and areas where parking on single and double yellow lines had proved to be a problem.

Streets due to be patrolled will be displayed on the council's website.

Signs alerting motorists to the car's operation will also go up around areas it is patrolling.

The council said illegal school parkers were 'putting children's lives at risk'.

Coun Ismail Ibrahim said: "We have been completely open and transparent about the new car.

"We've identified problem areas by gathering evidence of vehicles parked in contravention of the parking restrictions on three separate occasions over a weeklong period.

"We will reassess the area to determine if the problem still exists there after three months.

"Anyone seen parking their vehicle illegally so far has not been fined but will have received a letter warning them they are committing an offence.

"We've also written to businesses and schools to let them know that this car will be operating in their area.

"Quite simply parking dangerously puts lives at risk, particularly outside the school gates.

"The car will hopefully act as a visible deterrent and also reassure people that enforcement is fair and consistent because of the photographic evidence."

The car is operated by parking enforcement firm NSL.

Spokesman Tim Cowen added: "Wherever we have used the CCTV Smart car we have found that it is ideal for reducing illegal parking in especially dangerous places such as outside schools."

Offenders face a £70 fine, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

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Judge Dredd, Manchester (03/11/2009 at 15:26)

The council however said it would be deployed to monitor 'keep clear' zones outside schools.

it sounds like a war out there !!!!

Paul Peters (03/11/2009 at 15:53)

Another snooping local Labour Council..yawn!

steve wilson (03/11/2009 at 16:08)

A smart car for £50 grand!!!

Mark,Radcliffe. (03/11/2009 at 16:13)

People of Bolton do the same as this 'smartcar'... when this highly visible vehicle is parked illegally,photograph it,especially if it is evidence gathering.After all,NSL is only NCP under a new guise,basically a private company.

Lovable Blue Frog. Any pond life around here by any chance?, Manchester (03/11/2009 at 16:48)

Inconsiderate parents are a nuisance, round them up.

Jay B, oldham (03/11/2009 at 16:56)

its still illegal!! the signage isnt clear enough and unless there are signs put up indicating you are under cctv survailence the evidence they collect is worthless!
sorry! the powers that be high up made the rules in the first place! i'm just highlighting them.

James S (03/11/2009 at 17:02)

£50k for that, plus presumably staff costs to 'monitor'? Could have employed a good few lollypop ladies for that! Idiots.

PO (03/11/2009 at 17:21)

I saw one of these the other morning in Trafford Park, must be a few knocking around. Where it was it obviously wasn't looking for parking offenders.

Crumpsall-Lass, Crumpsall (03/11/2009 at 18:00)

I wish they'd come down the Eaton Road side of King Davids School in Crumpsall. Cars parked on pavements down both sides making it difficult for me to pull my shopping trolley or people to push prams or wheelchairs. Also parked on yellow lines, too close to junctions, across junctions and I've even seen them parked the wrong way on this one-way street. And at the end of the school day, cars stop in the middle of this road to pick up their kids when the anti-social parking already makes it single file. Goodness knows what would happen if the emergency services needed access at any time of day.

Dave F1 (03/11/2009 at 19:07)

ih ope they spend some time monitoring that bus lane on St. Georges Rd, they'd make so much money from that that they would make the 50k back and so much more that no-one would have to pay any council taxin Bolton!!

bootty (03/11/2009 at 19:20)

I cannot believe some of the negative comments on this story,this is just what is required to stop these people parking so as to endanger others.Most people obey the rule but you always get the ignorants who think that it does not apply to them,so if this Smart car makes just one of them park where they should, well done say I!!!

Fanny Ayres, Woodhouse Park (03/11/2009 at 21:13)

Bolton council up to it's usual logical thinking. They want to video people who are breaking the law if somewhat minor manor, so they procured a highly visible £50,000 logo emblazoned white submarine with wheels to do the job. Now if that is Bolton Councils way of structured thinking God help you Boltonions.

Horatio Dogsbody, Flixton (03/11/2009 at 21:48)

"Another snooping local Labour Council..yawn!"

Actually it is no overall control - 28 Labour and 32 non-Labour councillors.

Knowsleyman, Paphos (03/11/2009 at 23:10)

Jay B, Olham has a very good legal point.

Manchester City Council that that they did not have to abide by the rules and 'fined' thousands of people for bus lane offences.

They are having to repay ALL of these.

Has Bolton Council obtained, for it's private contractor, the approval for the type of equipment being used? Somehow, I doubt it!!!!!!!!!!

Chelley, Milan (03/11/2009 at 23:38)

Well said bootty!I agree with every word.

Rob Hardman - www.tamesidemart.co.uk, Denton (04/11/2009 at 00:19)

I sent photographic evidence of an M.E.N. delivery van parked dangerously near Corrie Primary in Denton, but they just were just warned.

Lord Ryan the Great, Chadderton (04/11/2009 at 01:24)

Judge Dredd, Manchester - Also a Dredd fan here :) Stick em all in the cubes and close their blocksfor random inspection!

As for the story, I don't think this goes far enough. We need cameras everwhere. In our workplaces to make sure we arn't downloading porn or updating facebook. In our prisons to make sure the new playstations have arrived. In our public toilets to make sure we wash our hands afterwards. In our houses to make sure our children are safe! People need monitoring at all times! They're out of control! TODAYS YOUTH! BRING BACK THE BIRCH! HANG EM!

Jay B, oldham (04/11/2009 at 08:45)

anyone with decent common sense knows not to park on those lines.
why not patrol outside the school and give all pupils caught getting out of cars a detention? it used to deter pupils from doing things in my day!

sallyg, Lancs (04/11/2009 at 09:26)

Good idea, but look around - loads of councils are too lazy to even get a TRO in order, and the zig zags outside the schools mean nothing. Idiotic to park there, but in a lot of areas, there's little the council will be able to do.

The Man, Sat on a chair under a roof. (04/11/2009 at 11:03)

I hope the 'spy car' is like Kit from Nightrider, complete with hasselhoff in his leathers looking moody and butch.

Terry Mahon, Ex Mancunian (04/11/2009 at 17:57)

How do you get a Smart Car for £50K.
£15K for the car and 500 quid for a camcorder.
Someone is having an expensive laugh at the taxpayers cost?

Mark,Radcliffe. (04/11/2009 at 20:05)

Why the car ? Video camera yes,and a PCSO using it (they've been paid for already),so its the cost of the camcorder...Saved Bolton Bolton Council £50k,and no consultancy fee for it either !

Is It Me? (04/11/2009 at 20:35)

Can we have cars to catch paedophiles,muggers,burglars,drug dealers,terrorists,rapists,feral scum,etc? Oh no! Far too dangerous,hassled mothers trying not to be late for work are much easier meat!! GET YOUR PRIORITIES RIGHT,BRITAIN.

Albert Square, Republik of Mancunia (05/11/2009 at 11:46)

I bet if I turned up outside a school with a video camera, it would not be long before the police were called. Are the rules and laws in this country for all, or are they only applied to the many by the few ?

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