We use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at several sites in Medway to enforce:

  • traffic restrictions
  • signs and road markings.

We can issue penalty charge notices (PCNs) for offences such as:

  • driving through a 'no entry' sign
  • illegal turns
  • stopping in yellow box junctions.

This makes the roads safer and less congested.

Locations

We enforce moving traffic restrictions with ANPR cameras at:

  • Gillingham High Street, Gillingham: ‘no motor vehicles’ restriction
  • Rochester High Street, Rochester: ‘no motor vehicles’ restriction on Saturdays
  • Chatham Hill (A2), junction with Rock Avenue in Gillingham: yellow box restriction
  • A2 Rainham Road, junctions with Ash Tree Lane and Canterbury Street, Gillingham: yellow box restriction
  • A2 High Street junction with Orchard Street, Rainham: right turn ban
  • Gibraltar Hill junction with A230 Maidstone Road, Chatham: yellow box restriction
  • Cuxton Road at High Street junction with Gun Lane, Strood: yellow box restriction
  • High Street junction with The Brook, Chatham: pedestrian zone and no entry restrictions

We have not introduced any new traffic restrictions at these locations. We have only changed the way we enforce the restrictions.

How it works

ANPR cameras are used to capture vehicles that:

  • do not comply with restrictions
  • fail to follow traffic signs and road markings.

The cameras capture the Vehicle Registration Number.

Camera footage is reviewed by trained council staff for issuing drivers with a PCN.

Only emergency services are exempt.

Enforcement

If you fail to comply with traffic restrictions in the first 6 months (from Monday 5 February 2024) you'll receive:

  • a warning letter for your first offence sent to the address the car is registered to
  • a PCN for any repeat offences.

There will not be any warning letters after the first 6 months.

You can pay a PCN online.

You can also appeal a PCN online if you think you have been wrongly penalised.

Background to moving traffic offences

We were granted powers from the government in July 2023 to enforce moving traffic offences under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Before this, moving traffic offences could only be enforced by the police.

Better enforcement of these offences makes the roads safer. It helps us to meet objectives in our Council Strategy 2023 to 2024 and Local Transport Plan.