DRIVERS could be more likely to be fined for using bus and cycle lanes or stopping in yellow boxes.
Twenty councils – including Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield – are seeking new powers to penalise motorists for offences such as making illegal turns.
The Department of Transport has already granted the extra powers to councils in London, who last year fined 800,000 drivers, raising millions of pounds.
Yorkshire Euro-MP Godfrey Bloom criticised the proposal yesterday.
“The Government promised to end the war on motorists but that pledge has gone the way of so many of their others,” said the United Kingdom Independence Party man.
“Councils already use motorists as a cash cow raking in tens of thousands of pounds in parking fines. Now the Local Government Association has lobbied for authorities to have the power to fine drivers for other offences.
“This will drive a further wedge between police and the public, whose interaction now is almost wholly traffic based and negative.”
Neither Kirklees or Calderdale are among the 20 councils who have asked for the extra powers.
