New powers to make parking enforcement more motorist-friendly and consistent are being introduced, Transport Minister Rosie Winterton announced today.
Regulations, laid in Parliament today, will give independent adjudicators more power, including the right to ask local authorities to scrap fines for motorists who have mitigating circumstances.
Further regulations, to be laid later this year, will introduce a number of improvements including lower penalties for less serious offences.
New guidance also requires local authorities use parking enforcement to improve road safety and cut congestion, not make money.
Rosie Winterton said:
"It is vital that we increase public confidence in parking enforcement by making it fairer. These new rules will make the system more transparent and consistent.
"There is a perception that motorists are often unfairly penalised by parking attendants who are only interested in issuing as many tickets as possible. We want to ensure the penalties they issue are fair and justified.
"At the same time it is important that motorists understand parking enforcement is crucial to ensuring traffic flows smoothly. Parking in the wrong place can and does cause traffic jams. It can also put other road users in danger."
The regulations will come into force next March to give local authorities time to prepare for the new system.
Regulations, laid in Parliament today, will give independent adjudicators more power, including the right to ask local authorities to scrap fines for motorists who have mitigating circumstances.
Further regulations, to be laid later this year, will introduce a number of improvements including lower penalties for less serious offences.
New guidance also requires local authorities use parking enforcement to improve road safety and cut congestion, not make money.
Rosie Winterton said:
"It is vital that we increase public confidence in parking enforcement by making it fairer. These new rules will make the system more transparent and consistent.
"There is a perception that motorists are often unfairly penalised by parking attendants who are only interested in issuing as many tickets as possible. We want to ensure the penalties they issue are fair and justified.
"At the same time it is important that motorists understand parking enforcement is crucial to ensuring traffic flows smoothly. Parking in the wrong place can and does cause traffic jams. It can also put other road users in danger."
The regulations will come into force next March to give local authorities time to prepare for the new system.
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