New rules are set to...

New rules are set to make it almost impossible to dodge parking tickets.

Wily motorists have traditionally been able to escape fines by steering clear of traffic wardens, or speeding off before they have slapped a note on their windscreen. But those days will soon be gone. From next month, the Traffic Management Act will give local authorities the power to swap wardens for CCTV cameras, of which there are over four million in Britain.

And footage of motorists caught flouting the rules of the road will be all the evidence councils need to issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) by post. Mov-ing traffic offences, such as blocking box junctions or making banned turns at junctions, can also be captured on film from 31 March and enforced with fines.

London authorities have enjoyed these powers since 2004, and issued over six million PCNs in the last financial year. Figures show only 63,000 of these were appealed – although 67 per cent were successful.