Media release
Auckland Councillors Cameron Brewer and Calum Penrose
Sunday, 12 June 2011

Grafton Bridge $150 fines on the rise despite promises

The number of $150 tickets being issued to motorists driving across Auckland’s Grafton Bridge has increased on a monthly average since the formation of the Super City, despite a mayoral campaign promise not to ping drivers to help keep rates down, according to two Auckland councillors.

New figures gained from Auckland Transport show 14,253 bus-lane infringement notices have been issued in the past 12 months from 1 June 2010 to 31 May 2011 on Grafton Bridge which is closed to cars from 7am to 7pm during week days.

In the five months from 1 June to 31 October 2010, 5,438 tickets were issued – a monthly average of 1,087 tickets. In the seven months from 1 November 2010 to 31 May 2011 Auckland Transport reports 8,815 tickets were issued – a monthly average of 1,259 tickets.

At a $150 a pop, the potential revenue gained from the 14,253 tickets issued for Grafton Bridge infringements over the past 12 months is $2,137,950.

“When the upgraded bridge reopened in late 2009 as a dedicated bus corridor, a lot of motorists got pinged. However we were assured the numbers would come down and in fact Mayor Len Brown promised that the days of overzealous traffic wardens were behind us. Sadly, the reality is the number of cars being snapped on Grafton Bridge is again tracking upwards,” says eastern suburbs representative Cameron Brewer, Councillor for Orakei.

Councillor for Manurewa-Papakura Calum Penrose says Auckland Transport’s trigger happy mobile camera units were denting the central city’s reputation.

“A lot of people from down south come into the city and inadvertently get themselves snapped. They simply don’t realise the bridge is closed to cars during the day time. Some don’t even know they’ve done anything wrong until the ticket turns up. They can’t remember seeing any signs or seeing any advertising. It’s leaving a very bad taste in some people’s mouths. I’m getting quite a few complaints,” says Mr Penrose.

Both councillors say they support bus-lanes and the positive contribution they make to public transport. Their concern lies with how they’re being policed.

Cameron Brewer says Auckland Transport should improve signage and says many drivers only see the camera operator when it’s too late.

“This kind of money-hungry militancy could damage Auckland during the Rugby World Cup when we’ve got an extra 41,000 visitors in town. We’ll have a lot of domestic visitors cruising around and overseas visitors in rental cars. Auckland Transport has got to take the pedal off the metal, and deliver on the mayoral promise of treating drivers fairly when it comes to bus-lane infringements,” says Mr Brewer.

Ends

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