Secret camera costing motorists £100 for right turn

Drivers are being trapped by a £12,000-a-day camera scam, it was claimed today.

Road signs appear to allow them to take a short cut through a junction and across a busy main road. But when they do they are picked off by a CCTV camera and fined £100 each.

One angry father today threatened to fight Camden council in court unless it cancels his daughter's fine or puts up warning signs. Mac McCullagh has the backing of the RAC Foundation which said the junction was "totally unclear".

Mr McCullagh - an engineer - said hundreds of motorists must have been caught as they turn out of Boswell Street into one-way Theobald's Road.

At the end of Boswell Street drivers are confronted by arrows and a sharply angled kerb forcing them to turn left.

After following the instruction, however, many then turn immediately right into Drake Street. It is at that moment that the remotecontrolled CCTV camera turns to catch the manoeuvre, triggering a £100 fine.

The penalty charge notices state: "The council believes that a penalty charge is payable ... for the following alleged traffic contravention: failing to drive in the direction shown by the arrow on a blue sign." The paperwork includes an image of the sign and a picture of the car turning right. However, Mr McCullagh insists his daughter Charlotte, 21, an anthropology student at London University, has been falsely accused of breaking the law.

He said: "There is no reason why - having complied with the signs by turning left - they should not then turn right. It's impossible for motorists to tell that the turn into Drake Street has apparently been banned by Camden as there are no signs to suggest this. Any normal motorist would believe they had complied with the rules simply by turning left to exit Boswell Street. What they do after that is up to them."

Charlotte said: "The situation is ridiculous and we are going to contest it. If Camden want to ban a right turn, they should put up signs saying so."

Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said the fine should be rescinded. He said: "This junction is totally unclear. Drivers clearly think they have obeyed the signs by turning left and there is nothing to say they should not turn right. Ambulance and taxi drivers think it is safe. We really do not think people should be ticketed here."

Mr McCullagh visited the site and took pictures, capturing scores of other vehicles - including ambulances and taxis - making the same mistake. He said he estimated the site was netting up to £12,000 a day.

"You can see the remote-controlled camera tracking them," said Mr McCullagh. "Some creep is obviously sitting in an office turning a joystick to keep them on camera - and clocking up £100 each time. It is disgraceful behaviour and it is a trap."

Camden council was today unable to explain the revenue generated by the CCTV camera.

A spokeswoman said the junction did not need a sign to prevent motorists turning into Drake Street, as they had already been instructed to turn left.

She insisted Charlotte did break the rules. She said: "Having reviewed the video evidence it is clear that the vehicle does not make the left turn into Theobald's Road. Instead it waits unnecessarily to move directly across the carriageway into Drake Street.

"This manoeuvre itself interrupts the traffic flowing into Drake Street. The owner of the vehicle can view the videotape if she wishes, and will need to make written representations if she wants to contest the case further."