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Traffic Management Act 2004

The Traffic Management Act 2004, Part 6 becomes effective in Wiltshire on 31 March 2008. What was previously called “Decriminalised Parking Enforcement” will become “Civil Parking Enforcement”.

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The objective of the changes is to ensure that parking enforcement contributes to transport objectives with quality based standards that the public understand and which are enforced fairly, accurately and expeditiously.

The aim is to increase compliance with the regulations through well designed, legal and enforced parking controls.

Enforcement authorities parking policies are reviewed regularly and must help to:

manage the traffic network,
improve road safety,
improve the local environment
improve access to public transport
meet the needs of people with disabilities
manage the competing demands on kerb space.

The Act encourages authorities to ensure that,

their staff are fully trained
documentation is clear and easy to understand
that the policies are open to public scrutiny.
they monitor their own performance to improve standards
publish an annual report.

New powers

Differential Penalty Charges: £70 or £50.
The more important contraventions that might affect traffic flow, or cause major nuisance such as yellow line, disabled and bus bay breaches will increase to a £70 charge. Lesser contraventions such overstaying a pay and display ticket time will be reduced to £50. This has been bought in because the public believes it will be fairer. The penalties still will be discounted by 50% for prompt payment.
Power for the district council officers to enforce against parking on crossing zigzag lines.
Power to send Penalty Charge Notices by post where the officer is prevented from serving the notice at the time of issue.

Other offences may be bought within ‘Civil’ enforcement power in the future.