A yellow box junction was behind about a third of the fines handed out to rule-breaking drivers in Reading, the council’s Parking Services annual report shows.
Reading Borough Council started enforcing moving-traffic offences after gaining the power in November 2022, with yellow box enforcement beginning in February 2023. The boxes are designed to keep junctions clear and traffic moving. Drivers must not stop in a yellow box unless they are turning right and are prevented from completing the turn by oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to turn.
The cameras at the Kings Road junction with Eldon Road issued 1,851 fines 31 per cent of the total in 2024/25. The Kings Road junction with Orts Road issued 1,244 fines, and the Oxford Road junction with Bedford Road 1,087. Each of those three camera locations recorded more than 1,000 fines.
Fines are issued as penalty charge notices (PCNs) and can be challenged. In 2024/25 a total of 5,883 PCNs were issued, 5,256 were paid and 4,768 were paid at the £35 discounted rate.
Drivers can pay the discount within 21 days, otherwise they must pay £70 within 28 days. If no action is taken the charge rises to £105. Of the challenges made, 89 PCNs were cancelled after formal representation and 165 were written off for other reasons.
When enforcement starts at a location, warning notices must be issued for the first six months. If a vehicle contravenes the same yellow box after two weeks of the first warning notice, a PCN can be issued during that six-month period. After six months the warnings stop and PCNs can be issued immediately. In 2024/25, 542 warning notices were issued after enforcement began at four new sites.
The figures are published in the councils Parking Services Annual Report. The report is usually presented at the traffic management sub-committee, but it has not appeared on those meetings agendas so far this year.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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