A notoriously unpopular Derby traffic camera has pulled in more than £130,000 for the city council, and people are once again arguing over whether it’s a road safety measure or the city’s most successful side hustle.

The yellow box junction camera on St Alkmund’s Way, near Cathedral Road, has been catching motorists since February 2025, when Derby City Council switched on ANPR enforcement for drivers stopping inside the yellow box.

And according to a Freedom of Information request, the camera has been busy.

More than 3,500 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) have been issued since enforcement began, with the council sending out fines worth a combined £153,438. That figure includes paid, cancelled and outstanding penalties.

The actual cash already received by the council? More than £130,000 by the end of June.

Drivers caught stopping in the yellow box can be hit with a £70 fine, although those who pay up quickly get it reduced to £35.

So why is this camera there?

According to the council, it’s not about making money – it’s about making sure ambulances can get through.

The yellow box sits near an ambulance station, and council bosses say they had evidence emergency vehicles were being delayed by drivers blocking the junction.

The authority says the camera has done exactly what it was intended to do, with ambulance services reporting fewer delays since enforcement started.

A council spokesperson said: “Since enforcement began, the ambulance service reports fewer delays, demonstrating that continued enforcement is in the public interest.”

They added that only a small proportion of motorists break the rules and that any money generated from fines is legally ring-fenced for transport and highways improvements.

🤔 But not everyone’s convinced…

This camera has not exactly won a fan club – and don’t expect a Pride of Britain nomination any time soon.

Critics have repeatedly branded it a “cash cow”, arguing motorists are being punished for minor mistakes rather than dangerous driving.

Councillor Jonathan Smale, one of the scheme’s most vocal critics, said: “I just feel like this has been done to be a money spinner.”

He added that no driver is perfect and said the camera risks penalising people making genuine errors.

The yellow box became such a talking point that it ended up being debated during a full council meeting earlier this year.

But Derby’s transport leadership pushed back hard against claims the camera is there to trap unsuspecting drivers.

Labour councillor Carmel Swan said: “There is no conspiracy theory here to trap unsuspected drivers.”

Translation: the signs are there, the box is yellow, and if you stop in it, don’t be shocked when the fine lands on your doormat.

By Laura Wilde (She’s one of our own) and Nigel Slater (Local Democracy Reporter)