DISGRUNTLED motorists are complaining about a safety camera van targeting vehicles at an East Riding village junction.
Drivers are being hit with fines for failing to stop at the junction in Leconfield.
Frustrated motorists claim they have been penalised for "creeping" past a stop sign at the A164 Main Street junction with Arram Road, insisting their view was impeded by the Humberside Safety Partnership Camera vehicle.
But Safer Roads Humber, which operates the camera vehicles, has warned drivers are failing to stop at the junction, where there has been a near-miss.
Leconfield Councillor John Nickolds said: "I have been made aware of a significant number of residents incurring penalties for 'creeping' over the stop sign at the above junction.
"Many are adamant they stopped before the line, checked the mirror opposite then crept forward in anticipation of having to stop again until sufficient visibility was available to the north west, in the Driffield direction.
"I have received representation from one resident who reflected a widely held view that the location of the Humberside Safety Partnership Cameras vehicle contributed to his very 'misdemeanour' which was recorded by that camera."
Mr Nickolds said the size and windowless shape of the camera vehicles could have restricted lines of sight for vehicles emerging from the junction.
Now, following the targeting of the junction, some motorists are steering clear of it – creating a rat run in a residential road, Sellers Drive.
Villagers are now compiling a list of drivers who have been penalised to take up the issue with the authorities.
One angry Arram Road resident, who did not want to be named, is collecting a petition to present to Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart.
The villager said: "I am disgusted about these penalty notices people have been getting. You have to crawl forward from the stop sign to see.
"I don't know why they're targeting this road, there hasn't been any accidents.
"I got a penalty notice and I always stop, even at a give way sign. I must not have stopped 100 per cent but crawled over the line to see."
The 62-year-old opted to go on a safety awareness course at a cost of £95 to avoid receiving penalty points, together with a £60 fine.
Mick Harris, partnership manager of Safer Roads Humber, defended enforcement work at the junction.
He said: "A lot of drivers were not stopping at the stop sign.
"I have had a look at some of the offences on camera and people are coming straight through the junction.
"Those are the people who have received fixed penalty notices.
"The legislation requires you stop before the line and then move off. If you do that there's no offence committed."
Mr Harris said there has been a near-miss between a car and a pedal cycle at the junction.
He said: "The major cause of crashes is failing to look and failing to see, or failing to appreciate the path or speed of another vehicle.
"If you come straight out over a stop line, that's the potential.
"We use police officers on the vehicles and it's down to their discretion.
"At this junction, the officer thinks the actions of these drivers are creating a danger."
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