Minister calls for Roads Service to enforce parking laws

NIO Minister, John Spellar has called for new legislation to allow the Roads Service to enforce on-street parking restrictions in Northern Ireland.

Following a consultation process last year, the public has expressed support for the enforcement of on-street parking restrictions to be transferred from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to the DRD Roads Service.

Considering the public’s responses, Mr Spellar said: “There is widespread appreciation that illegal parking impedes traffic movement, causes delays and is a road safety hazard.

“The transfer of enforcement to DRD Roads Service would enable the PSNI to concentrate their resources on areas of greater policing priority, while at the same time ensuring that there is effective control of on-street parking restrictions. However, this must be clearly focused on ensuring road safety and traffic flow and not penalising motorists.”

The new legislation will bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK, where local roads authorities have had similar powers since 1991. The public’s views will be sought on the draft legislation later this year and the scheme is planned to be fully operational by mid-2006.

(MB)