Motorists who block box junctions or ignore no-right-turn signs could have their number plates recorded by civil enforcement officers and receive £100 fines in the post.

Sussex - which already has 78 cameras for catching speeding motorists - could become home to many more under measures in the Traffic Management Bill, debated by MPs yesterday.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling's attempt to prevent future gridlock said the measures would take the burden away from police and give authorities such as Brighton and Hove City Council more responsibility for safety on the roads.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "Police have got better things to do.

"When you invest all that money training a police officer, I think most people would like to see them dealing with other criminal matters that are of more pressing need."

The Bill, unveiled in the Queen's Speech in November, includes the creation of uniformed "jambuster patrols" which will take over responsibility for getting traffic moving after incidents or breakdowns.

They will be able to set speed limits, order diversions and tow away vehicles.

Councils would be allowed to set fines, although Mr Darling would have powers to intervene over "excessive" charges.

The AA has warned motorists would view the crackdown as another scheme to generate funds for local government.

Bret Morris, of the AA Motoring Trust, said: "We need more enforcement on the street, particularly for box junctions, where one inconsiderate driver can cause chaos.

"What worries us is the local authorities that do this.

"Is it going to be enforcement to improve traffic flow and safety or is this going to become a revenue exercise so if they wanted more money they could proliferate box junctions everywhere?"

Brighton and Hove took on the responsibility for on-street parking in 2001 and immediately handed over control to private contractors NCP, which led to a tripling of wardens.

NCP spokeswoman Nichola Frost said: "The devolution of powers to parking attendants has so far proved successful and we see no reason why further powers couldn't be devolved equally as successfully.

"We'll watch for any developments with the Bill with interest.

"We are supportive of any measures that can be shown to contribute to improved traffic management and road safety."

So how will the new Bill affect Brighton and Hove if it becomes law?

Early indications are the city's transport managers are very keen on a section introducing fines of up to £5,000 for private companies which allow roadworks to overrun, causing misery to motorists caught up in tailbacks.

The council's Labour transport spokesman, Simon Battle, said: "We welcome the additional powers outlined by the new Bill, particularly the ones giving authorities more control over street works.

"However, it is too early to say which aspects Brighton and Hove will be taking up.

"We need to establish additional resources and examine the fine detail of the Bill as it proceeds through Parliament."

What remains unclear is just how much of a difference the new regime would make.

Traffic wardens and parking attendants throughout Sussex already have their hands full policing a variety of parking schemes.

Sussex Police pay just one warden to patrol Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, although Mid Sussex District Council has promised more when it takes control of parking later this year.

Council leader Christine Field said: "We see the decriminalisation of parking, which we are preparing to take over responsibility for, as an opportunity to address the concerns of the community about irresponsibility and anti-social parking rather than the opportunity to generate income.

"We will take full advantage of any opportunity to improve parking and road safety for our residents."

In Hove yesterday, opinion was divided about how effective the new Bill would be.

John Le Poidevin, 36, who lives in Kemp Town, said: "This is just going to be another way of getting money out of the poor old motorist.

"We have enough to worry about with speed cameras without this."

But Aimee Coleman, 18, of Hove, said: "It's about time something was done about idiots who block the road when you are trying to get by.

"When you try to pull on to the seafront at busy times it's impossible because of all the cars blocking the junction."

No parking attendant was prepared to speak publicly for fear of being reprimanded but one said the new scheme would be open to abuse.

He said: "I guess you could have people who might decide that if they had a grudge they could report a vehicle that hasn't done anything illegal.

"But the same is true of the police now, because they already have these powers."

Another said: "It would be good for us because it would have to be for extra money.

"You can't do a job which involves more work for no more money, can you?"