Is this Britain's most lucrative camera? Bus lane snoop rakes in almost £20,000 a DAY in fines





One of Britain's most lucrative road traffic cameras has issued £600,000 of fines in less than a month, it has been revealed.

Astonishingly 10,000 drivers have been caught using a bus lane in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, a number which equals around an eighth of the total population of the town.



Currently it is raking in a staggering £16,000 per day but local MP Mike Penning says the reason for this is that the warning signs close to it are far too small and the lane should be painted red.



Lucrative: The bus lane camera in Hemel Hempstead (pictured) has issues £600,000 in fines in just 38 days

Hertfordshire County Council, who installed it at the beginning of August, is refusing to suspend its enforcement despite Mr Penning being 'inundated' with letters from angry constituents.

The local authority says the signs in Moor End Road are legal but the MP disagrees, and he is the under secretary for transport in the current Government.

'I have been inundated with letters. Ignorance in the eyes of the law has never been a defence but some of the signage is clearly wrong,' Mr Penning said.

'The thing to do surely is suspend any enforcement against people while they sort this out.'



Stuart Pile, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at the council, said they would not stop using it.



He said: 'The county council has no plans to suspend enforcement at Moor End Road or refund motorists who have been fined for illegally using the bus lane.

'The signs in place follow the Department for Transport guidance and are the approved size, and the necessary authorisation for the enforcement site has been obtained.