In 2008 new parking rules came into effect with the implementation of Part 6 of The Traffic Management Act 2004.
The previous system of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) became Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) and Parking Attendants are now called Civil Enforcement Officers (CEO).
The Act enables the council to make changes to the way they enforce parking restrictions, whilst aiming to increase compliance with parking restrictions.
We have powers to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) to vehicles parked on zigzag lines on the approach to pedestrian crossings, parking across a dropped kerb and double parking.
The Act also allows for PCNs to be served by post, if a vehicle has driven away once the Notice has started to be issued and where an Enforcement Officer has been prevented from serving a PCN. The council has also been given more powers to deal with persistent evaders.
Differential charging was also introduced with different penalty levels depending on the type of parking contravention. More serious contraventions such as parking on a single or double yellow lines have a higher charge of £70 and less serious contraventions such as overstaying in a pay and display car park have a lesser charge of £50.