Drivers could be hit with £70 fines for breaking the rules of the road under new powers granted to Kent County Council (KCC).

The authority wants to install ANPR cameras in Maidstone and Dartford in a bid “to improve bus punctuality and air quality, and to reduce traffic congestion.”

Previously only London boroughs were able to do so, but KCC has just gained new powers to use monitoring devices to catch “moving traffic offences” under an extension to the Traffic Management Act 2004.

It means the council can now use cameras to prevent offences such as driving past a ‘no entry’ sign, making a banned U-turn, entering yellow box junctions when the exit is not clear, or driving where motor vehicles are prohibited such as in a bus or taxi-only lanes.

KCC proposes installing its first camera at the bus-gate between Chapelfield Way and Howard Drive at Allington in Maidstone.

It was installed when the Hermitage Park development was built to allow a new bus service to enter, while preventing traffic from using the route as a rat-run.

A “sump-buster” was installed, which it was hoped would deter ordinary traffic from using the road, but that has not proved effective.

Many modern cars are as high off the road as Nu Venture’s buses which operate the route, so they were easily passing over it.

But an APNR camera will catch offenders, landing them with a £70 fixed penalty.

The second camera is to be positioned at the ‘no entry’ signs at the Joyce Green Lane-end of the Kent Fastway in Dartford.

Cameras are also likely to be installed at the ‘no entry’ areas on Rennie Drive and Crossways Boulevard, other ends of the same route.

The “fastway” is intended only for buses and cyclists.

There physical lifting barriers are in place to prevent traffic, but KCC says they are becoming old and worn and the maintenance cost is prohibitive. The authority says cameras will be a more effective means of control.

KCC’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Neil Baker, said: “By taking a zero tolerance approach to moving traffic offences, it is our aim to improve residents’ quality of life, traffic flow and air quality.

“We have identified these sites for additional enforcement using criteria set out in law.”

Before the cameras can be installed, the authority has to carry put a public consultation and consider the responses.

Views can be given via the KCC website here.

The deadline for replies is February 19.

Cllr Baker said: “I look forward to hearing from anyone who may wish to have their say.”