More than 3,000 drivers have been hit with penalty charge notices for veering into bus lanes in Brighton and Hove in 2008.

The figures, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act, show the number of fines issued has doubled from 2007 when the enforcement began and that 1,498 penalty notices were issued.

When Brighton and Hove City Council first took over the bus lane enforcement programme it said it expected the prohibited use of bus lanes to reduce quickly.

However, the latest figures suggest even more people are being fined for entering the restricted lanes – netting the council a possible £180,000.

Motorists are notified of a fine with a still image of their vehicle in a bus lane taken from CCTV footage.

A council officer then watches the CCTV images and records any car entering the bus lane before a second officer records its location, the alleged contravention, date, time and video frame number.

An operative then records the vehicle registration number, along with the make, model and colour of the vehicle.

Drivers spotted in the bus lane face a £60 penalty charge.

If the charge is paid within 14 days the cost is reduced to £30.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “In cities such as Brighton and Hove bus lanes are essential to make public transport a viable alternative to driving a car.

“Motorists who drive in those lanes are selfishly undermining that alternative and the council is keen to deter them from doing this.

“That is why we are always improving our methods of enforcing against this sort of behaviour and why, if you drive in the bus lane, you are more likely than ever to be caught and penalised.”

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker said: “It’s absolutely right that bus lane violations are seen to be enforced properly.

“The fact that the figures have doubled shows we are effectively cracking down on those drivers who are flaunting the rules.

“Bus lanes are there for a reason and this news show the measures are working.”

The council does not collate information for the number of charges issued by camera location.