Overview of Parking Tickets

Who Issues Parking Tickets?

Parking restrictions are enforced by either the police (normally traffic wardens employed by them) or the council (by parking attendants they employ or sub-contract to).

Council controlled parking attendants enforce yellow lines, meter and residents' bays etc... The council also maintain ticket machines and meters as well as the signs and infrastructure of on and off-street car parking. The police generally enforce 'Priority' or 'Red Routes', but have a residual power to issue parking tickets generally.

In 1994 parking offences were decriminalised in London. This allowed the London boroughs to carry out their own enforcement or contract private companies to to do it on their behalf. Over time more and more councils have chosen to adopt this system, meaning a reduction in traffic wardens and an increase in parking attendants. Many people believe that profit now takes precedent over any concerns to maintain proper parking controls.

Police Penalties

Police officers and traffic wardens can issue 'fixed penalty notices' (FPNs). The notice provides details of the offence and how and when to pay. If you agree you committed the offence you should pay the fine, which is reduced if paid promptly. If you do not pay you are sent a 'notice to owner' as a reminder. If you still do not pay the fine increases by 50%,the offence becomes a criminal matter and you would be pursued in the Magistrates' Court. You could be sent to prison in extreme situations (although this is highly unlikely).

Local Authority Penalties

A local authority parking attendant can fix a penalty notice to your vehicle. If you agree you parked wrongly you should pay the fine, which again is reduced if you pay promptly. If you do not pay you are sent a 'notice to owner', then a charge certificate and the fine will be increased by a further 50%. If you still don't pay the local authority can register the debt as if it were a county court judgment (CCJ). If they then enforce the judgment it would be registered against you, your credit rating would be affected and they could dispatch bailiffs to take your car away and sell it or take away other possessions of yours to sell. You cannot be sent to prison for the debt.

Some local authorities issue parking tickets in their car parks and in metered or pay and display bays on the street. These are commonly known as “Excess Charge Notices” or “Standard Charge Notices”. They are processed by the local authority and enforcement takes place in the local Magistrates Court.

Don't wait until it's too late. Call Motor Defence Team now, on 0800 2800 912, for a fixed fee consultation with a specialist lawyer.

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