Find out where we carry out moving traffic enforcement in Central Bedfordshire and how penalty charge notices (PCNs) are issued.
What are moving traffic offences
The Traffic Management Act 2004 allows us to enforce certain moving traffic restrictions.
Since 2022, councils outside London can apply to the Department for Transport for approval to use these powers. Before this, only the police could enforce these offences through the criminal justice system.
These powers help us improve road safety, manage traffic flow and address issues such as misuse of bus lanes and other restrictions. We use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at locations where restrictions apply.
You can view the full list of moving traffic offences on this page.
Penalty charge notices
Cameras identify vehicles that break traffic restrictions. If a contravention is confirmed, we may issue a PCN to the registered keeper of the vehicle.
When enforcement starts at a new location, we issue a warning notice for the first contravention during the first 6 months. If the same vehicle breaks the rules again at that location during this period, we may issue a PCN.
Current enforcement locations
The following table shows current moving traffic enforcement locations and restrictions.
| Location | Restriction |
|---|---|
| Biggleswade, Sun Street | No entry |
| Cranfield, Lodge Road | No left turn |
| Houghton Regis, Tithe Farm Primary School | School keep clear |
| Leighton Buzzard, Clipstone Brook Lower School | School keep clear |
| Leighton Buzzard, High Street | Pedestrian zone |
How we select enforcement sites
We assess potential enforcement locations using a 4-stage process to make sure decisions are fair, consistent and based on evidence.
You can suggest a location by emailing mto@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk. We review all requests against our criteria and priorities. Due to funding and operational limits, we cannot take all locations forward.
Stage 1: initial assessment
We only consider sites that meet all of the following criteria:
- the offence is one we can enforce
- the location is suitable for camera enforcement
- other measures have already been considered or tried
- enforcement will:
- improve road safety
- reduce congestion
- improve public transport reliability
- improve air quality
- protect highway infrastructure
- the required traffic regulation orders, signs and road markings are in place
We do not take sites forward unless they meet all of these criteria.
Stage 2: prioritisation
We score sites based on road safety, congestion, public transport reliability, air quality and highway impacts. Sites must meet a minimum score to progress.
Stage 3: monitoring
We carry out surveys to measure non-compliance. We use the results to help prioritise enforcement.
Stage 4: consultation and decision
We run a 6-week public consultation. We use feedback to inform recommendations before making a final decision through our traffic management process.