A plan to introduce cameras to catch and fine motorists who cause congestion will be considered on Thursday.

If adopted, Brighton and Hove will be one of the first cities outside London to wage war against drivers straying into restricted city centre bus and taxi lanes.

The scheme is expected to yield between £150,000 and £250,000 for the first year in just one of three streets being targeted - Western Road, North Street and Dyke Road.

Brighton and Hove City Council estimates between 18 per cent and 58 per cent of traffic in the zones, set up to reduce congestion and improve public transport, is illegal.

It is proposing a £60 fine, reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks.

Deputy chair of the environment committee, councillor Craig Turton, said: "Drivers flouting the regulations is an ongoing issue and we have been seeking ways to deal with it for many years. Brighton and Hove has done well in increasing bus passengers but there is no doubt that congestion on the bus-only route in the city centre is restricting further growth."

Four CCTV cameras already trained on the bus lane in Western Road but rarely used by police, would be reassigned to yield an estimated 2,500 penalty notices a year.

Enforcement would be carried out in-house, through the council's traffic control centre at Bartholomew House.

Coun Turton added: "When motorists drive along the bus corridor it affects thousands of bus passengers.

"Removing cars illegally using the bus corridor will help the buses provide frequent, reliable services, and improve the environment, especially air quality, for shoppers."

The scheme will not be able to begin until next year because a national appeals service must first be established, which is expected to take several months to come to fruition.

The proposals will be voted on by the council's environment committee this Thursday night.

The initiative has been seen by motoring and trade organisations as an attempt to introduce a new "stealth tax."

Kevin Delaney, of the RAC Foundation, said: "A significant number of councils seem to be driven by predictions set at the beginning of the year for the amount of bus lane fines expected to be issued, which in effect become targets."

Roger McArthur, chairman of lobby group Traders Against Parking Persecution, said: "The money the council is making from parking now is astronomical and now it is going to collect even more from drivers.

"Once this bus lane enforcement is up and running, it will expand and expand it to make as much money as possible."

The council said it is not expecting to make any money from the scheme and any extra revenue generated will be ploughed back into the scheme.

Last week, the boss of Brighton and Hove's buses, Roger French, called for London-style red routes to deter illegal parking.

In the capital, motorists know that if they park on the double red lines which line every street within a five-mile radius of the centre they risk being ticketed immediately and towed within minutes.

Mr French wants the city council to consider introducing red routes in London Road, Lewes Road and Western Road, Brighton, where irresponsible parking leads to massive delays for buses.