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Parking and Traffic Enforcement
The Traffic
Management Act 2004
Parking legislation has changed. On March
31, 2008, the Road Traffic Act 1991 (as amended) and the London
Local Authorities Act 2000 (as amended) were replaced by the
Traffic Management Act 2004.
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for parking
contraventions are now issued in accordance with the new
legislation.
The introduction of the Traffic Management Act 2004 has not
affected PCNs issued for Bus Lane or Moving Traffic
contraventions.
What are the objectives?
Some of the objectives of the new legislation are:
- To promote transparent parking enforcement that is consistent
for all members of the public
- To continue to achieve fair and accurate parking enforcement
that the public understands and accepts
- 100% compliance with parking restrictions
- Improved road safety
- Improved quality and accessibility of public transport
- To meet the needs of people with disabilities who depend
entirely on the use of their car
- To improve the local environment
What are the key changes?
- Parking Attendants (PAs) are now known as Civil Enforcement
Officers (CEOs)
- Higher and lower rates of penalty charge have been introduced
to differentiate between serious and less serious contraventions
(as of July 2007 in Newham)
- The discounted payment period for parking PCNs issued via CCTV
and sent by post has been extended to 21 days (it remains at 14
days for all other types of penalty charge)
- The initial notification (i.e. the PCN) posted for penalty
charges issued via CCTV also serves as the Notice to Owner. This
means only one notice is sent out prior to the Charge
Certificate
- CEOs and the Local Authority now have the power to issue a PCN
by post if a vehicle is driven away before the PCN is attached to
the vehicle or handed to the driver
- The Local Authority must respond to all formal representations
within a maximum period of 56 days from the date they receive
them
- The Local Authority will publish policies about their use of
discretion when cancelling penalty charges based on mitigating
circumstances
- There will be increased powers for adjudicators at the Parking
and Traffic Appeals Service when dealing with parking
appeals
What do you need to do?
You do not need to do anything.
However, as a motorist, you should continue to observe road
signs and lines while driving and parking. |