Parking Changes on the Way

Major changes to the way councils enforce parking are on the way as the Government’s long awaited Civil Parking Enforcement Regulations are to come into affect on 31 March 2008.

The new regulations, which form Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 will be the most radical shake up of parking enforcement in England and Wales for many years.

Under the new regulations this activity will become known as Civil Parking Enforcement and Parking Attendants will become known as Civil Enforcement Officers.

There will be two levels of Penalty Charges depending on the severity of contraventions and in certain exceptional circumstances (the Parking Attendant threatened or subjected to violence or the vehicle being driven away)  there will no longer be a need for a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) to be placed on a vehicle, or handed to a driver in order for it to be properly served as the new rules, in such circumstances allow the PCN to be posted to the registered keeper of the vehicle.

Local council’s across Kent already work in partnership with each other, to provide consistency and look set to adopt the same penalty charges across the county.

Download the Kent Parking Group Information Leaflet 740Kb PDF

New Tarriff's for Penalty Charges

Ashford Borough Council’s Executive agreed the charges on Thursday 10 January.

Currently 70% of PCN’s issued in Ashford would fall into the less serious category while 30% fall into the more serious category with a higher penalty charge. This will mean that most people in the borough who fall foul of parking regulation will be paying less in the future.

The new regulations, which cover on street and off street parking, aim to make parking fairer and more transparent and provide motorists with a consistent service across the country.

Preparation for and implementation of the new regulations is expected to cost Ashford Borough Council around £58,000 which will have to be taken from reserves.

Preparations include a full review of local parking orders, road markings and traffic signs to ensure they comply with the new regulations, changes to IT systems, uniforms, printed stationery and staff training.

Cllr Neil Bell, portfolio holder for Environmental Services said: “There is no doubt this is the biggest shake up for parking for a long time. While we welcome the government’s proposals, which should make parking rules across the UK more consistent, fairer and more appropriate with higher fines for more serious offences, they do also pose a significant financial burden on local councils for their implementation. “

What happens when the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) comes into force in England and Wales on 31st March 2008

• Parking Attendants will become known as Civil Enforcement Officers.
• There will be two levels of Penalty Charges depending on the severity of contraventions, and a list of these appears below.
• The higher band in Kent will be £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days).
• The lower band in Kent will be £50 (reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days).
• There will no longer be a need for a Penalty Charge Notice to be placed on a vehicle, or handed to a driver in order for it to be properly served.
• If a vehicle is driven away before the Notice is issued, it may be posted to the registered keeper of the vehicle.
• If a Civil Enforcement Officer for whatever reason is unable to serve the Notice it may be posted to the registered keeper/owner of the vehicle.

Higher Band Penalty Charge Notices

• Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours
• Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force
• Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place without clearly displaying either a permit or voucher or pay and display ticket issued for that place
•  Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit
• Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited
• Parked in a loading gap marked by a yellow line
• Parked in a suspended bay/space or part of bay/space
• Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicle
• Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading
• Parked in a designated disabled person’s parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badge
• Parked in a parking place designated for police vehicles
• Parked on a taxi rank
• Stopping where prohibited (on a red route or clearway)
• Stopped on a restricted bus stop/stand
• Stopped in a restricted area outside a school
• Parked wholly or partly on a cycle track
• A commercial vehicle parked in a restricted street in contravention of the Overnight Waiting Ban
• Parked in contravention of a commercial vehicle waiting restriction
• Parked in contravention of a coach ban
• A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway, verge or land between two carriageways
• Parked with one or more wheels on any part of an urban road other than a carriageway (footway parking)
• Parked in a loading area during restricted hours without reasonable excuse
• Parked in a restricted area in a car park
• Parked in a permit bay without clearly displaying a valid permit
• Parked in a disabled person’s parking space without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badge
• Vehicle parked exceeds maximum weight and/or height and/or length permitted in the area
• Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle

Lower Band Penalty Charge Notices

• Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket
• Parked after the expiry of paid for time
• Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time
• Parked displaying multiple pay & display tickets where prohibited
• Parked with engine running where prohibited
• Parked without clearly displaying two valid pay and display tickets when required
• Parked without payment of the parking charge
• Parked in a resident’ parking space without clearly displaying a valid residents parking permit
• Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place displaying an invalid permit, an invalid voucher or an invalid pay & display ticket
• Re-parked in the same parking place within one hour of leaving
• Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space
• Parked for longer than permitted
• Parked for longer than the maximum period permitted
• Parked after the expiry of paid for time
• Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket
• Parked with additional payment made to extend the stay beyond time first purchased
• Parked beyond the bay markings
• Re-parked within one hour of leaving a bay or space in a car park
• Parked in car park when closed
• Parked in a pay & display car park without clearly displaying two valid pay and display tickets when required
• Parked in a parking place for a purpose other than the designated purpose for the parking place
• Parked with engine running where prohibited

Tips on how to avoid getting a penalty charge notice

• When purchasing a ticket on street or in a car park always make sure your ‘buy’ enough time to get the shopping done or have that meeting and get back to the car.
• Make sure you display your parking ticket the correct side up.
• Don’t park on double yellow lines unless you are loading or unloading. Civil Enforcement Officers will observe vehicles to ensure that loading or unloading is evident.
• Do not park on single yellow lines during restricted hours unless you are loading or unloading. There should be a sign nearby which tells you when the restriction is in force.
• Park wholly within a marked bay. Taking up more than one bay is frustrating for other drivers trying to find a space and will result in receiving a penalty charge.
• Keep some loose change in your car to purchase a pay and display ticket. Don’t risk going for change and leaving your car in a pay and display area without displaying a valid ticket.
• Do not park in bays designated for other users such as bus stops, taxi ranks, disabled bays, etc.
• If you’re a blue badge holder, please ensure that your badge is displayed photograph down so that the expiry date can easily be seen, and set the clock at your arrival time. Disabled drivers should also not park in areas designated for other users.