RANGERS are being ordered to issue parking fines to mobile speed cameras whenever possible as councils try to ban them from their streets.

Gosford City Council voted this week to ban mobile speed cameras within its borders and to write to the State Government demanding the RTA apply for development consent to run the devices, which it says it will refuse.

The council, led by self-styled "road warrior" Deputy Mayor Craig Doyle, believes the six mobile camera vans currently in use and the 40 planned for next year are in breach of the Government's own development control laws, which allow the RTA to erect street signs, traffic lights and other structures without the consent of local councils.

Mr Doyle said the vans did not fit the definition of what constitutes "traffic control facilities" under the State Environmental Planning Policy and the Traffic Administration Act 1988.

"The State Government has failed to demonstrate that the privately operated mobile speed cameras are safety works by definition," Mr Doyle said.

"If it cannot be demonstrated these cameras and private operators and contractors achieve a safety purpose - as is the intent of the legislation - then they may be acting illegally."

In the meantime, council parking inspectors have been told to hunt them down and issue fines if the vans are parked in no-stopping zones, on footpaths or overstay time limits.

It follows a motion at last week's Local Government and Shires Association conference calling on the Government to stop using mobile speed cameras and return to high-visibility policing and education programs.

The LGSA also called on the Government to dedicate revenue raised by speed cameras to fixing the "black spots" that warranted the speed cameras in the first place.

Roads Minister David Borger failed to respond yesterday.

An RTA spokesman said Gosford Council should support mobile speed cameras, which had proven to reduce the road toll in other states.

He said the vans also had limited parking exemptions but could not obstruct pedestrians or cyclists.

Roads Minister David Borger said mobile speed cameras are an integral part of the Government’s road safety package and they are here to stay.



"They are being re-introduced to help reduce speeding and save lives. If they didn’t work… we wouldn’t implement them," he said.



"In fact, I welcome Wyong Council’s recent decision to oppose a ban on mobile speed cameras and thank them for their support.



"Gosford Council should remember that speed kills and these cameras –as proven in other jurisdictions like Victoria and Queensland - are effective in saving lives."

Originally published as Speed camera war erupts