Eight councils gain moving traffic powers on 9 Dec
New traffic rules are being switched on in parts of England from 9 December 2025. A new Statutory Instrument made on 11 November and laid before Parliament on 13 November confirms three things at once: wider parking enforcement in parts of East Sussex, bus lane enforcement powers in parts of Cambridgeshire, and new moving traffic enforcement areas for eight councils. The Order is signed by Transport minister Keir Mather and, while it legally extends to England and Wales, the designations it makes sit in England.
Here’s the plain-English version. If you drive, cycle or ride in any of the areas listed below, certain road signs and bus lanes can now be enforced by your council using cameras and civil penalties. That means a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) through the post rather than points on your licence. Police can still act where criminal offences apply, but day-to-day compliance with local restrictions increasingly sits with councils under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.
From 9 December, moving traffic enforcement powers apply within parts of Brighton and Hove City Council, the Borough Council of Calderdale, Cornwall Council, Dorset Council, Kirklees Borough Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Milton Keynes City Council and Slough Borough Council. Each area designated for moving traffic is the same as, or falls within, the area already approved for parking enforcement. Councils decide which specific locations to activate, and they must sign and publicise them first.
East Sussex also sees a tidy-up of its parking enforcement map. In Hastings, a previous exclusion on the A21 up to the junction with Junction Road is removed so the whole borough is now covered for civil parking enforcement. In Lewes District, earlier exceptions are deleted, bringing all roads in the district within the county’s civil and special enforcement area for parking. In practice, East Sussex County Council will be able to issue PCNs on stretches that previously sat outside its remit.
Bus lanes next. The Order adds parts of Cambridgeshire County Council’s area to the national list of authorities approved to enforce bus lane contraventions. The designated parts mirror the areas already used for parking enforcement. If you enter, drive in or stop in a signed bus lane or bus gate when you’re not allowed, the county can send a PCN by post based on camera evidence.
What counts as a moving traffic contravention? Typical examples include stopping in a yellow box when your exit isn’t clear, turning where a turn is banned, passing a ‘no entry’ or ‘motor vehicles prohibited’ sign, driving through a timed ‘school street’ closure, ignoring one‑way streets, or breaching signed weight or width limits. Speeding and running a red light are different offences dealt with by the police, not this civil regime.
How the process works for you. Most cases use approved roadside cameras. If a contravention is recorded, a PCN arrives by post to the registered keeper. Under the 2022 regulations you normally have 28 days to pay or make representations. For PCNs served by post on camera evidence, the discount window is usually 21 days from service; pay in that window and the charge is reduced. Read the notice carefully so you don’t miss deadlines.
There are fairness checks too. Government statutory guidance says councils outside London should send a warning letter for a first offence at each new camera site for the first six months after enforcement starts there. After that, or on a repeat at the same camera during the six months, a PCN would follow. Councils are also expected to publish clear start dates, maps and signage so you can adjust routes in good time.
If you think a PCN is wrong, you can challenge it. First, make representations to the council with any photos, dashcam clips or evidence. If the council rejects your case, you can take a free appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which handles parking, bus lane and moving traffic appeals for England outside London. Adjudicators are lawyers and decide cases on the evidence. Some councils re-offer the discount after a timely challenge, but this is not guaranteed-check your notice.
What this means in daily life. If you live, work or study in Brighton and Hove, Calderdale, Cornwall, Dorset, Kirklees, Knowsley, Milton Keynes or Slough, expect camera enforcement at clearly signed sites such as bus gates, school streets, yellow boxes and turn bans. In East Sussex, remember that Hastings and Lewes are now fully covered for council parking enforcement. In Cambridgeshire, look out for bus lane timings and exemptions. The changes apply from 9 December 2025, so the safest habit is simple: read the signs, leave space to clear junctions, and if a notice arrives, respond on time.