From 31 March 2008, new parking regulations together with national guidance were introduced.   These are aimed at making parking enforcement more transparent and fairer for the motorist. They seek to focus local authorities on tackling road safety and congestion.  Regular reviews will be carried out to make sure that the intended results are being achieved. The key elements of the regulations are:

New Terminology
Decriminalised Parking Enforcement will be referred to as Civil Parking Enforcement and consequently Parking Attendants will be called Civil Enforcement Officers.

Differential Penalty Charges
Recognising that some parking offences have greater impact than others, the Traffic Management Act 2004 introduces different levels of penalty charges, depending on the seriousness of the offence.  For example, parking on a yellow line or in a disabled bay without a blue badge will attract a higher penalty (£70), while the penalty for staying too long in a free parking place is reduced to £50. This provides a greater deterrent to those who are tempted to park in a way that causes danger, disruption or difficulty for others.  There is an early payment discount of 50% on all penalties if they are paid within the first 14 days.

New Procedures
The new legislation also aims to be fair to those on the receiving end of a Penalty Charge Notice.  For example:

• If you receive a Penalty Charge Notice, you can view our policy for consideration of challenges
• If you receive a Penalty Charge Notice you may submit a challenge and we will give full consideration to the points you have made and aim to respond within 14 days.
• If you challenge the ticket within 14 days, but are unsuccessful, we will usually re-offer the early payment discount.

New powers
Civil Enforcement Officers will be able to issue Penalty Charge Notices for parking on zigzag lines at pedestrian crossings and within taxi ranks.

Enforcement of parking across dropped kerbs, and for parking more than 50cm from the kerb (double parking) is included in the regulations subject to additional legislation.

In cases where the driver moves off or becomes aggressive before the Penalty Charge Notice can be served, we will be able to serve Penalty Charge Notices by post.

Authorities will able to use CCTV evidence to issue a Penalty Charge Notice. This is not planned for Guildford at the present time.

Monitoring
Civil Parking Enforcement seeks to strengthen the link between the purpose of the enforcement and results that it achieves. Each year the Council will publish an annual report showing the results of its enforcement.

Patrol Web Site

Patrol provides information about parking regulations and enforcement in councils that enforce Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London.  It is aimed at drivers and vehicle owners who use their vehicles in one of the council areas in England (outside London) and Wales where parking regulations are enforced under the civil enforcement scheme.  Please visit their web site for more details www.patrol-uk.info (this page opens in new windlow).

For further information please contact the Parking Office.

The Parking Office
Bedford Road multi-storey car park
Level 2
Laundry Road
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 4PX

Tel: 01483 444534
Email: parking@guildford.gov.uk