31/03/2008

Parking Fines To Get Posted

New parking regulations mean that motorists who try to escape penalty notices by driving off can now receive them in the post.

Under the new regulations, a ticket should not be issued unless there is an obvious parking violation and clamping should be a last resort.

The name 'parking attendants' will be changed to 'civil enforcement officers', there will also be larger fines for some offences and lower ones for others.

Transport Minister Rosie Winterton said: "Parking rules exist to help beat congestion and improve road safety. These regulations will help make parking enforcement fairer, clearer and more open.

"We do have to make it clear that it is a balance between making sure that traffic can keep moving, but also have a fairer system, which we believe that it is."

Caroline Sheppard, the Chief Adjudicator of the new penalties told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the measures would make it easier for drivers to appeal against penalties.

David Sparks of the Local Government Association said: "It'll mean that those selfish individuals who park in main roads out of cities will finally get their comeuppance, and the hundreds of thousands of motorists who are inconvenienced by them will at last get some justice."

The AA has issued a set of 'Ten Commandments' to accompany the new regulations.

(DS)


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