Government acceptance of Transport Committee parking recommendations
6 March 2015
Louise Ellman MP welcomes Government acceptance of Select Committee recommendations on parking
Speaking in response to an announcement by the Government of changes to local authority parking guidance and regulations, Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the Transport Committee said:
"These common-sense policies were recommended by the Transport Committee back in 2013. I am delighted that the Government has taken up our recommendations, and that motorists who are just a couple of minutes late back to their cars will no longer face a penalty charge notice.
Allowing short grace periods for motorists to return back to their car will help address the deep-rooted perception that parking enforcement is used as a cash cow by local authorities: something which is neither acceptable nor legal."
Recommendations
Recommendation 11 from the Transport Committee's Local authority parking enforcement (PDF 1.92 MB) Report, published on 23 October 2013:
"A common sense approach to parking enforcement should minimise the issuing of Penalty Charge Notices to motorists who make honest mistakes. We recommend 33 that the DfT's statutory guidance should stipulate that local authorities implement a grace period of 5 minutes after the expiry of paid for time on all paid parking places. (Paragraph 38)"
Recommendation 18 from the Transport Committee's Local authority parking enforcement (PDF 1.92 MB) Report, published on 23 October 2013:
"Local Authorities must be clearer about when the 50% discount does or does not apply to a penalty charge. Motorists should not be discouraged from appealing against tickets. However, we are reluctant to extend the 50% discount through the tribunal appeal process due to the additional administrative burden that an increase in appeals might place on local authorities. We recommend that the Government work with local authorities to set up on a trial basis the introduction of a 25% penalty charge discount for motorists who pay within 7 days of losing their appeal to the parking tribunals. (Paragraph 53)"