Hampshire County Council has agreed a new policy which will guide how it applies its new powers to enforce certain types of traffic restrictions.

At a decision meeting on March 9 council leader Rob Humby considered a report and policy for 'moving traffic' enforcement and agreed its recommendations. 

Cllr Humby said: “It is important that we have a policy to underpin the county council’s enforcement activity which aims to ensure road users respect and adhere to restrictions where they apply on the highway. The measures are introduced for very good reasons and encouraging compliance with highway laws will help to support road safety, minimise delay and inconvenience by keeping traffic moving, including enabling priority access for public transport and to encourage people to walk and cycle more.”

The moving traffic enforcement policy is in line with Department for Transport guidance and sets out the context for moving traffic enforcement, the outcomes expected and how moving traffic enforcement will be delivered and operated by the county council. 

Police will continue to have the power to enforce all highway laws.

As a highway authority the county council was granted powers, in July last year, to enforce moving traffic restrictions through the issue of a £70 penalty notice to drivers who disregard the restrictions. 

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Contraventions would include blocking traffic movement by being stationary on a yellow box marked section of road, or ignoring banned turns, or parking on ‘Keep Clear’ areas such as those near to schools. 

Civil enforcement of restrictions involving moving traffic on the highway will be applied initially at the following sites using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. 

Where necessary, road signs and markings will be updated to ensure the restriction is as clear as it can be.  

The locations are:

Test Valley - Yellow box marking outside the fire station on the A3057 Alma Road in Romsey

Winchester - Bus gate on Station Hill

Basingstoke - Bus gate at Norn Hill and pedestrian zone (with an exception for buses) at Alencon Link

Eastleigh - Yellow box marking on Leigh Road junction with M3 southbound slip road

Fareham - School Keep Clear marking outside Portchester Community School, White Hart Lane

Havant - School Keep Clear markings on Hart Plain Avenue, in Cowplain near to Cowplain School, Hart Plain Infant and Hart Plain Junior Schools

New Forest - Prohibition of right turn on Staplewood Lane, at the junction with A326 Marchwood by-pass

Rushmoor - Prohibition of right turn on A325 Farnborough Road at the junction with Empress Avenue/Napoleon Avenue in Farnborough.