Car Parking - New Enforcement Details

From 14th May 2008 Macclesfield Borough Council takes over responsibility for enforcing parking, loading and waiting restrictions from the Police.

The County Council will remain responsible for making the restrictions, but the Borough Council will enforce them – acting as agents of the County Council but using their own Enforcement Officers.

Currently when someone commits a parking offence such as parking on double yellow lines, a Police Officer or Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) will issue a Fixed Penalty Notice.

After 14th May 2008 these parking offences will become civil contraventions. This means the Council Enforcement Officers will issue Penalty Charge Notices (fines) instead.

Parking Safely – Questions and Answers

Q   Why has the Borough Council taken over responsibility for parking?

A   The police need to spend more of their time fighting crime and other traffic offences. The Borough Council can expand its existing Car Parks team to take on enforcement of the streets, meeting local needs more cost effectively.

Q   What are the benefits?

A   Better enforcement of parking regulations and targeting of wrongly and inconsiderately parked vehicles will benefit residents and visitors by:

• Improving road safety at junctions where parked vehicles block the view of other drivers.
• Improving safety outside schools.
• Getting traffic flowing freely.
• Improving access and response times for emergency vehicles.
• Improving the circulation for busses and cyclists.
• Cutting abuse of disabled parking spaces and freeing them up for genuine disabled car users.

Q   Will the Police be responsible for any parking enforcement?

A   Yes – they will enforce temporary waiting restrictions marked by “Police No Waiting” cones at special events such as carnivals and sports events. They will also issue Fixed Penalty Notices for obstruction offences (e.g. pavement parking) and parking on white zigzag markings at pedestrian crossings (although the Council Enforcement Officers can enforce these as well).

Q   Is this a fund raising exercise?

A   No – At the moment the Government gets the money from parking fines issued by the Police. Under the new scheme the Council will collect  the fines and use them to pay for the costs of enforcement, using any left over to improve transport and parking in the Borough.

Q   Where and when will the parking enforcement take place?

A   Our own Enforcement Officers will enforce restrictions throughout the entire Borough. The Officers will patrol when and where they are needed to sort out parking problems.

Q   Will parking regulations be changing?

A   No – Council Enforcement Officers will simply be enforcing the restrictions in place now.

Q   How much is the fine or Penalty Charge Notice?

A   The fine amount depends on the severity of the offence and will be either £70 or £50. For example parking on double yellow lines will attract a ticket for £70 whereas overstaying in a car park will be £50. If paid within 14 days there is a 50% discount to £35 or £25 as appropriate.

If you pay late the amount will be increased by 50% to £105/£75 or significantly more if we have to pursue the debt through the use of Bailiffs.

Enforcement Officers will not be allowed to accept payment and are under strict instructions that once a ticket has been issued it cannot be withdrawn.

Q   Can I appeal against a ticket that has been issued?

A   Yes of course! – There are various stages at which we will consider appeals. Further information will be available on this website before the “go live” date and will explain the appeals process thoroughly.

Q   Will Enforcement Officers be paid bonuses or be given targets for the number of tickets issued?

A   No – the Enforcement Officers won’t have targets or be paid bonuses. Their aim will simply be to help keep streets clearer to help traffic flow.

Q   I am a Blue Badge Holder, how will the changes affect me?

A   Nothing changes! – You can still park on double or single yellow lines for up to three hours, except where there is a ban on loading or unloading. You must display your Blue Badge along with the parking disc showing the arrival time. Where there is “limited waiting” you can park without any time limit subject to displaying your Blue Badge.

Please make sure your Blue Badge is displayed the correct way up at all times i.e. so we can see the serial number and the expiry date.