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Drivers Fined Almost £1m for Yellow Box Offences Under New Council Powers

Councils outside the capital enforced over 32,000 yellow box penalties in 2024, prompting warnings of revenue-driven enforcement.

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Overview

  • The government’s May 2022 legislation expanded yellow box junction enforcement beyond London and Cardiff by allowing all English councils to apply for moving traffic powers.
  • In 2024, 36 junctions outside the capital issued 32,748 penalty charge notices, resulting in £998,640 in fines.
  • Manchester City Council recorded the highest number of fines at 13,130, raising £446,706 from six junctions.
  • Penalty charges are £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days, but only a fraction of drivers appeal notices with a maximum 18% appeal rate in Manchester.
  • The RAC and traffic engineers warn that oversized box junctions risk unfair fines and caution against councils using enforcement as a revenue stream.