27.06.19
Leeds Council install cameras to enforce Clean Air Charging Zone
Leeds City Council has begun to install camera infrastructure to monitor and enforce the Clean Air Charging Zone (CAZ).
When live the zone will tackle air pollution in Leeds by encouraging businesses to transition to cleaner, less polluting vehicles to avoid daily charges.
The council has begun to install a network of around 300 new cameras equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology at over a hundred junctions around the perimeter of the zone as planned.
Cllr James Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for resources and sustainability, said:
"Like most residents, Leeds City Council believes that tackling air pollution to protect the health of everyone in the city is a priority.
"Money raised from CAZ charges will only be used to cover the costs of operating the zone itself, to support owners of affected vehicles, and for other schemes to improve air quality."
The zone will charge owners of the worst polluting HGVs, buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles. Private cars, light good vehicles, and motorcycles will not be charged.
The cameras will only be used to enforce the Clean Air Charging Zone; they will not be able to detect the speed of vehicles and can’t be used to issue speeding or parking fines.
By recognising registration numbers and comparing them with a national government database, the camera network system will be able to identify non-compliant vehicles driving within the CAZ boundary when the zone is live.