A COUNCIL has pledged to step up its efforts to make sure parking fines issued by a new patrol car fitted with CCTV cameras are valid following a landmark legal ruling.

Basildon Council will introduce its new Smart car scheme in a few weeks to take pictures of drivers flouting parking rules.

However, in a recent ruling, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal said fines issued on the strength of pictures taken by spy cars were invalid unless signs were put up warning drivers about the patrols.

Malcolm Buckley, Tory Basildon councillor responsible for the environment, said signs warning of camera patrols in the district should be valid but the council would now be checking to make sure they were.

He said: “We’re not going to start issuing tickets unless we’re certain they will be valid.

“If that means we have to stick a few signs up I am sure it won’t be a serious problem.”

The camera-equipped spy car takes pictures of illegally parked vehicles and issues fines through the post.

Basildon Council’s car, which is leased for £25,000 a year, targets parents parking outside schools and cars clogging up roads in town centre streets, as well as illegal flytipping cases.

The council said it hoped to rake in £93,000 in parking fines and £125,000 in fines for illegal dumping in the car’s first year.

The scheme had been due to start earlier this year.

Mr Buckley said it was delayed because the car makers were having technical problems, but the council has now received the vehicle and it should be ready to patrol soon.

About 30 councils across the country use the scheme and the ruling could see thousands of drivers appealing earlier fines.