Paris experiments with remote fines

DRIVERS in Paris who park illegally or skip a red light can be fined remotely by video camera from this week.

The CCTV equipment supplements the work of traffic wardens on 10 major roads where parking is particularly problematic - including the Champs-Elysées, Avenue de l'Opéra and the Rue de Rivoli near the Louvre.

The experiment began on Tuesday and could be extended to other parts of the city if successful. It is already being used in Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Nice, Chartres and at Orly airport.

The cameras serve a dual purpose as they can also be viewed by police to detect and tackle crime.

Instead of the traditional parking ticket, a fine is issued by post including a screengrab from the camera in which the number plate is identifiable.

Among the most common driving offences that the cameras aim to detect are double parking, and driving or parking in a bus or taxi lane.