Use fines for road safety projects: AA

Photo / Sarah Ivey

The Automobile Association wants cash from Auckland City's controversial bus lane fines to be set aside for road safety projects - and not used to boost council revenue.

The AA will write to Auckland City Mayor John Banks requesting money earned from the bus lane fines in the past and future, that isn't used to cover the costs of collection, is "ring-fenced" for future road safety projects.

"We want to see it used for road safety rather than used to prop up council coffers," AA spokesman Simon Lambourne told the Herald last night.

The association will also write to Transport Minister Steven Joyce seeking urgent changes to the current bus lane laws that had become "an unfortunate mess", he said.

"It would go a long way to help restore motorists' faith in bus lane enforcement in Auckland. It's not too late to fix the mess."

He said AA supported bus lanes and fines for those who deliberately misused them but that support was conditional on central and local government ensuring the rules were sensible and practical and that bus lanes were managed appropriately.

"The existing bus lane rule simply doesn't work and we cautioned against it when it was proposed."

Auckland City's controversial bus lane enforcement regime has sparked a public backlash since figures showed the council handed out fines totalling $4.2 million in the past financial year, an average of 77 tickets a day.

Mr Lambourne said many drivers had to turn left across a bus lane and because of that may need to drive more than 50m along a bus lane to drive safely.

"On top of that, the $150 is outrageously disproportionate to the offence."

He blamed a lack of communication for the low level of public awareness.

FINES
* Not wearing a seatbelt: $150
* Running a red light: $150
* Using a cellphone while driving: $80
* Bus lane infringement: $150

ONE DRIVER'S COMPLAINT

Auckland IT worker Ajit Kuttikatte is one of the many motorists who say they have been unfairly fined for using a bus lane.

"I'm really unhappy about it. I've got tickets before, I'm not a bad driver, but I've got tickets for speeding, and I've paid without complaining because I know I've done something wrong ... but this is totally unfair, " Mr Kuttikatte said.

When he was fined he was leaving a parking building and says that from the point of exit to when he had to turn left towards Halsey St the distance was 65m. The law is that you are only allowed to enter a bus lane within 50m of an intersection.

"It doesn't make sense to go to the next lane for 15m and take a left again to get back into the bus lane," Mr Kuttikatte said.

At the time he saw an Auckland City council officer recording him but did not expect he would get a fine in the mail.

"He knew very well where I was coming from so I definitely think this is a money-grabbing exercise. I thought I should be fine because I was coming out of the parking lot."