Cameras' £22m Profit Storm

Auto Express, 28 th October 2005

Drivers now cough up £114million every year in speeding fines, new Government figures show.

And a row has broken out after it was revealed £92m of it is used to pay for speed camera upkeep, while £22m goes into the coffers at Chancellor Gordon Brown's Treasury.

A spokesman for the Department said: “The money is paid to the camera partnerships every quarter for what they outline in their operational cases, including new cameras and staff costs. The £22m is surplus to what has been asked for and stays with the Treasury. But it has no incentive to raise money.”

The Conservatives believe the public would be staggered to learn it costs over £90m a year to run the UK's speed cameras. Shadow Transport Secretary Alan Duncan said: “This is more evidence that cameras are used as a stealth tax. It is equally alarming to see the Treasury making more than £20m a yea rout of cameras. The entire regime for punishing people for speeding needs a review.”