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Parking clampdown
New powers will let councils use CCTV to issue parking fines.
By Julie Sinclair
31st March 2008
New rules that make it impossible to dodge parking tickets come into force today. The Traffic Management Act 2004 now gives UK councils the power to use CCTV cameras, as well as wardens, to spot and ticket illegally parked cars.
The move means the lens of an estimated four million cameras across Britain could now be used to monitor motorists’ behaviour, and issue fines.
The Government clamp down also allows wardens to ticket motorists even if they drive off before it has been slapped on their windscreen – a tactic traditionally used by wily motorists to dodge penalties.
Not all offences will be judged the same, however. The new legislation includes the introduction of a sliding penalty scale for the worst motoring offences, such as parking at pedestrian crossings, or on yellow lines, with lower fines for less serious infringements.
Appeals should be made easier, however, as complaints procedures should now be explained on the back of all tickets. Independent parking adjudicators also get more power, including the right to ask for councils to reconsider penalty charges in mitigating circumstances.
It’s not just parking rules that are being tackled in the new legislation either. Motorists’ other bugbear – roadworks - is being knocked into shape too. From tomorrow, the Act will make it easier for local authorities to co-ordinate projects – with utility companies required to give longer notice periods before starting works. Councils can also ban contractors from digging up the roads during rush hour. The Department for Transport says this should prevent unnecessary jams.
The move means the lens of an estimated four million cameras across Britain could now be used to monitor motorists’ behaviour, and issue fines.
The Government clamp down also allows wardens to ticket motorists even if they drive off before it has been slapped on their windscreen – a tactic traditionally used by wily motorists to dodge penalties.
Not all offences will be judged the same, however. The new legislation includes the introduction of a sliding penalty scale for the worst motoring offences, such as parking at pedestrian crossings, or on yellow lines, with lower fines for less serious infringements.
Appeals should be made easier, however, as complaints procedures should now be explained on the back of all tickets. Independent parking adjudicators also get more power, including the right to ask for councils to reconsider penalty charges in mitigating circumstances.
It’s not just parking rules that are being tackled in the new legislation either. Motorists’ other bugbear – roadworks - is being knocked into shape too. From tomorrow, the Act will make it easier for local authorities to co-ordinate projects – with utility companies required to give longer notice periods before starting works. Councils can also ban contractors from digging up the roads during rush hour. The Department for Transport says this should prevent unnecessary jams.
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