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22/06/2006
MPs criticise UK parking enforcement
Parking regulations in the UK are inconsistent and confusing, a report by a MPs committee has claimed.
The report by the Commons Transport Select Committee said that it was "absurd" that some parking offences were dealt with by police, while others were handled by local councils.
It also criticised parking enforcement contracts with incentives based on the number of tickets issued as "misguided".
Signs indicating parking rules were often unclear and misunderstood by drivers, the committee said.
The report also found that some parking attendants were not trained properly and were poorly paid and criticised the Department of Transport and the Audit Commission for failing to adequately scrutinise council parking operations.
Some councils did not make it clear how people could challenge a penalty charge notice, the committee noted.
Committee chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody said: "Our present parking system is, frankly, a mess.
"If a motorist parks illegally on one street they are branded a criminal and will be dealt with by the police and criminal courts.
"On another street they will have committed a civil infringement and will be processed by the local authority."
The report recommended that a single system of parking enforcement should be introduced and also recommended that more help should be provided to help drivers challenge unfair penalties.
(KMcA/SP)
The report by the Commons Transport Select Committee said that it was "absurd" that some parking offences were dealt with by police, while others were handled by local councils.
It also criticised parking enforcement contracts with incentives based on the number of tickets issued as "misguided".
Signs indicating parking rules were often unclear and misunderstood by drivers, the committee said.
The report also found that some parking attendants were not trained properly and were poorly paid and criticised the Department of Transport and the Audit Commission for failing to adequately scrutinise council parking operations.
Some councils did not make it clear how people could challenge a penalty charge notice, the committee noted.
Committee chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody said: "Our present parking system is, frankly, a mess.
"If a motorist parks illegally on one street they are branded a criminal and will be dealt with by the police and criminal courts.
"On another street they will have committed a civil infringement and will be processed by the local authority."
The report recommended that a single system of parking enforcement should be introduced and also recommended that more help should be provided to help drivers challenge unfair penalties.
(KMcA/SP)
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