New nationwide powers to fine motorists have been used sparingly in Kent to date - although new cameras to enforce them could soon be switched on.

Since June 2022, local authorities across the UK have been able to apply to the government for permission to penalise drivers who commit so-called moving traffic offences.

Offences targeted include ignoring no-entry signs, stopping in yellow box junctions and driving in bus or taxi lanes.

Up to now, the police have enforced these motoring misdemeanours outside of London - but now local councils are keen to get in on the act take so they can actively police problem areas.

But it appears local authorities in Kent have not adopted such new powers, nor have they dished out fines, at the rate first envisaged.

To date, Medway is the only authority in Kent to have done so - catching 2,395 offenders in less than a month.

A freedom of Information request sent by KentOnline to the county’s 12 district and borough councils revealed that none had taken up the powers nor intended to, instead saying they were leaving it to Kent County Council (KCC), the county’s highways authority, to act.

However, KCC does intend to use the new powers and has identified several sites where it plans to introduce ANPR cameras to catch offenders soon.

But the mechanics are not proving easy.

One of the sites is in Maidstone, where KCC intends to install cameras to catch motorists who enter the High Street which is restricted to buses and taxis.

But it is permissible for blue badge holders to enter to access disabled parking bays near the shops and the council has not yet determined how it can set up the cameras without finding itself issuing tickets to innocent blue badge holders.

A spokesperson for KCC said: “We are currently mobilising to install the first few moving traffic enforcement cameras this Spring at a number of locations.

“However, we have not yet installed any cameras and have not yet issued any penalty charge notices.”

The other sites that KCC has in mind include bus gates in Whitfield in Dover (known as the Dover Fastrack); Joyce Green Lane to Crossways Boulevard in Dartford (The Kent Fastway); Clive Road in Gravesend, in Beaver Road in Ashford, and Chapelfield Way in Maidstone.

It is also looking at putting cameras at Greenhithe Station up to Ingress Park Avenue in Dartford.

But KCC insists such powers will be used sparingly.

Speaking ahead of a series of consultations in November KCC’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Neil Baker, said: “Moving traffic enforcement can only be applied where action is needed to improve road safety, make public transport more attractive and tackle congestion.

“Last year [2022] we consulted on the first batch of locations, which we are now working towards implementing, using specialist technology to ensure the travelling public comply with lines and signs.

In Gravesend, it said the bus gate cameras in Clive Road would be a “last line of defence” to get drivers to comply with the restrictions.

It comes after more than 600 motorists were turned around by police officers between December and January as they tried to drive through the bus gate.

Figures from the county council gathered in June 2022 revealed around 1,000 vehicles were moving through the Clive Road bus gate, which was “causing delays to the bus network and affected the punctuality of buses”.

But again the implementation of the new rules has not been without controversy.

Taxi drivers in the town called for a U-turn on the decision to stop them from using the bus gate, however, KCC stated they would still not be able to use the fastrack system.

Speaking last month, Denny Stewart, chair of the Gravesham Taxi Association, said: “KCC is digging its heels in about not allowing us through this one gate.

“All we want to do is continue to do our jobs in the most efficient, safe and financially beneficial way we possible can.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous. We are allowed through the other ones.”

Meanwhile, Medway has been quicker off the mark than KCC to enforce the new moving traffic offences powers.

Its first camera went up on December 12, 2023 and it now has cameras covering 12 different locations.

Between February 5 and February 29 this year, they caught on camera 2,395 drivers for a variety of offences from making a prohibited turn to entering a no entry.

The camera catching the most offenders is at Orchard Street in Rainham, where 1,064 tickets were issued in just 24 days.

For six months after the installation of the cameras, offenders receive only a warning notice for their first offence.

After six months, or if a driver repeats his offence within the six months, the motorist will be hit with a £70 fine.

Cllr Tris Osborne, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering Enforcement, said: “The use of ANPR cameras means that traffic contraventions can be better enforced, which in turn helps to further enhance the safety of Medway’s roads for all road users, including pedestrians, as well as helping to reduce congestion.

“Income generated through Penalty Charge Notices issued will be used to cover the set-up and running costs of enforcement, and any surplus income will be invested back into Medway’s roads through highway repairs, public transport infrastructure improvements and environmental projects.

“We also use ANPR cameras in a number of our car parks, making it easier and more convenient for people to park without having to worry about rushing back to their vehicle as they would with a pre-paid ticket.”