Parking

Controlled Parking Zones

The Traffic Management Act 2004

Parking legislation is changing. On Monday 31 March 2008, the Road Traffic Act 1991 (as amended) and the London Local Authorities Act 2000 (as amended) are being replaced by the Traffic Management Act 2004.

From this date, all penalty charge notices issued for parking contraventions will be issued in accordance with the new legislation. The Traffic Management Act 2004 does not affect penalty charge notices issued for bus lane or moving traffic contraventions.

What are the objectives?

Some of the objectives of the new legislation are:

To promote transparent parking enforcement that is consistent for all members of the public
To continue to achieve fair and accurate parking enforcement that the public understands and accepts
100% compliance with parking restrictions
Improved road safety
Improved quality and accessibility of public transport
To meet the needs of people with disabilities who depend entirely on the use of their car
To improve the local environment

What are the key changes?

Parking Attendants (PA's) will now be known as Civil Enforcement Officers (CEO's)
Higher and lower rates of penalty charge have been introduced to differentiate between serious and less serious contraventions (as of July 2007 in Barking and Dagenham)
The discounted payment period for parking penalty charge notices issued via CCTV and sent by post will be extended to 21 days (it remains at 14 days for all other types of penalty charge)
The initial notification (i.e. the penalty charge notice) posted for penalty charges notices issued via CCTV for parking contraventions will also serve as the Notice to Owner. This means only 1 notice will be sent out prior to the Charge Certificate
CEO's and the local authority will now have the power to issue a penalty charge notice by post if a vehicle is driven away before the penalty charge notice is attached to the vehicle or handed to the driver
The local authority must respond to all formal representations within a maximum period of 56 days from the date they receive them
The local authority will publish policies about their use of discretion when canceling penalty charges based on mitigating circumstances
There will be increased powers for adjudicators at the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (PATAS) when dealing with parking appeals

What do you need to do?

You do not need to do anything. However, as a motorist, you should continue to observe road signs and lines / markings while driving and parking. Remember, you cannot be issued with a parking penalty charge notice if you do not commit a parking contravention.

For any further information, please contact the Parking Service by emailing parking@lbbd.gov.uk.

A controlled parking zone sign

Contact

Parking Services

PO Box 500

Barking

IG11 7LU

Tel: 020 8215 3005

Fax: 020 8227 3041

Textphone: 020 8227 2685

Email: parking@lbbd.gov.uk|