Traffic Management Act 2004

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 came into affect on 31 March 2008.

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

Under the new regulations this activity is now known as Civil Parking Enforcement and Parking Attendants are now be known as Civil Enforcement Officers.

There are two levels of Penalty Charges depending on the severity of contraventions and in certain exceptional circumstances (the Civil Enforcement Officer is threatened or subjected to violence or the vehicle being driven away) there is no longer 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 councils 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

Current Tariffs for Penalty Charges

Higher Tariff for more serious contraventions	Lower Tariff for less serious contraventions	Discount Rate if paid within 14 days
£70	£50	£35/£25

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.

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 residents’ 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

Don't skimp on time! - When purchasing a ticket on street or in a car park always make sure you ‘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 or on yellow lines which have a loading restriction in force.

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This webpage was updated on 9/29/2009

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