Labour promises better parking sense

Date: 24 July 2007

Transport secretary Rosie Winterton

The new regulations announced today by transport minister Rosie Winterton also ban local authorities from using parking enforcement to make money. Instead any funds raised will be ring-fenced for road safety and congestion improvements.

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."

Other points to the new regulations include:

• More power for independent adjudicators
• An increased discount period for PCNs sent by post (21 days instead of 14 days)
• Higher parking penalties for more serious contraventions and lower penalties for minor ones
• Quicker clamping and removal times for persistent evaders
• Wheel clamping will otherwise be discouraged.

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