London to introduce country’s first city-wide two tier scheme for penalising illegal parking
London Councils
8th December 06
London Councils today, Friday, 8 December, approved the country’s first city-wide two tier parking penalties scheme based on the seriousness of the contravention that has been committed.
The move comes after an extensive consultation with the public, motoring and other interested organisations carried out by London Councils and Transport for London (TfL). It will come into effect from 1 July 2007.
More than 80 per cent of those who responded said that acts of illegal parking causing the most disruption, frustration and danger to other road users should be penalised more heavily than others.
From next July drivers parking at bus stops, on pedestrian crossings, or in the safety zones outside schools will receive a higher penalty than those overstaying at a parking meter or failing to display a valid ticket.
A £120 penalty will be applied to serious contraventions in central London, while lesser offences will attract a penalty of £80. In outer London the fines will be £100 and £60. All penalties will reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days.
Currently, the penalties for all acts of illegal parking are £100 in central London and £80 in outer London. This new system will mean that motorists committing some parking contraventions will receive a £20 lower penalty then they currently do.
Chairman of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee Cllr Daniel Moylan said:
“Motorists parking illegally stop other road users from travelling smoothly and safely on London’s busy roads. Parking enforcement is carried out to ensure that people can enjoy a hassle and danger free journey.
“Striking the right balance between being firm and being fair has been a challenge for parking authorities. After listening to the views of the public, I believe we have come up with a scheme that meets both these objectives.
“Londoners feel it is unfair that a motorist returning a few minutes late to a parking meter should be penalised same as another causing a traffic jam by blocking a busy junction.
Motorists wrongly using bus lanes or committing moving traffic contraventions - including entering a box junction when their exits are blocked and going through a no entry sign - will receive a £120 penalty from next July.
Councillors also agreed that lorry company operators and drivers breaking the London Lorry Control Scheme will also receive £550 and £120 penalties respectively from July.
See a summary of the serious and less serious contraventions.
The decision on whether offences should be classified as more or less serious was based on the views expressed through the consultation.
See information on parking enforcement and the current levels of fines across London.
London Councils is committed to reviewing the levels of the capital’s parking penalties at regular intervals. It currently carries this out every four years.
It is the London Councils’ policy to set the levels at minimum to acts as a deterrent to illegal parking. The last time the charges were increased was on 1 April 2003.
During the summer London Councils and Transport for London (TfL) consulted with the public and a wide range of organisations including the AA, RAC, Transport for London, Metropolitan Police, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Road Haulage Association Limited, London Cycling Campaign, and Disabled Drivers Association. In total 113 responses were received.
The Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Transport will now be consulted on the increases. If agreed they will be implemented from 1 July 2007.
However the current Band A charges will be introduced in the area around Wembley in Brent on 1 March 2007.
London Councils was formerly known as the Association of London Government. Our new name, effective from 1 October 2006, was chosen to reflect more accurately our membership. We are committed to fighting for more resources for London and getting the best possible deal for London’s 33 councils. We develop policy, lobby government and others, and run a range of services designed to make life better for Londoners.
For press enquires contact: Stewart Henderson on 020 7934 9620 Stewart.henderson@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Fax 020 7934 9769
For non-media enquiries contact: London Councils, 59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL Tel 020 7934 9999
www.londoncouncils.gov.uk
8th December 06
London Councils today, Friday, 8 December, approved the country’s first city-wide two tier parking penalties scheme based on the seriousness of the contravention that has been committed.
The move comes after an extensive consultation with the public, motoring and other interested organisations carried out by London Councils and Transport for London (TfL). It will come into effect from 1 July 2007.
More than 80 per cent of those who responded said that acts of illegal parking causing the most disruption, frustration and danger to other road users should be penalised more heavily than others.
From next July drivers parking at bus stops, on pedestrian crossings, or in the safety zones outside schools will receive a higher penalty than those overstaying at a parking meter or failing to display a valid ticket.
A £120 penalty will be applied to serious contraventions in central London, while lesser offences will attract a penalty of £80. In outer London the fines will be £100 and £60. All penalties will reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days.
Currently, the penalties for all acts of illegal parking are £100 in central London and £80 in outer London. This new system will mean that motorists committing some parking contraventions will receive a £20 lower penalty then they currently do.
Chairman of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee Cllr Daniel Moylan said:
“Motorists parking illegally stop other road users from travelling smoothly and safely on London’s busy roads. Parking enforcement is carried out to ensure that people can enjoy a hassle and danger free journey.
“Striking the right balance between being firm and being fair has been a challenge for parking authorities. After listening to the views of the public, I believe we have come up with a scheme that meets both these objectives.
“Londoners feel it is unfair that a motorist returning a few minutes late to a parking meter should be penalised same as another causing a traffic jam by blocking a busy junction.
Motorists wrongly using bus lanes or committing moving traffic contraventions - including entering a box junction when their exits are blocked and going through a no entry sign - will receive a £120 penalty from next July.
Councillors also agreed that lorry company operators and drivers breaking the London Lorry Control Scheme will also receive £550 and £120 penalties respectively from July.
See a summary of the serious and less serious contraventions.
The decision on whether offences should be classified as more or less serious was based on the views expressed through the consultation.
See information on parking enforcement and the current levels of fines across London.
London Councils is committed to reviewing the levels of the capital’s parking penalties at regular intervals. It currently carries this out every four years.
It is the London Councils’ policy to set the levels at minimum to acts as a deterrent to illegal parking. The last time the charges were increased was on 1 April 2003.
During the summer London Councils and Transport for London (TfL) consulted with the public and a wide range of organisations including the AA, RAC, Transport for London, Metropolitan Police, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Road Haulage Association Limited, London Cycling Campaign, and Disabled Drivers Association. In total 113 responses were received.
The Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Transport will now be consulted on the increases. If agreed they will be implemented from 1 July 2007.
However the current Band A charges will be introduced in the area around Wembley in Brent on 1 March 2007.
London Councils was formerly known as the Association of London Government. Our new name, effective from 1 October 2006, was chosen to reflect more accurately our membership. We are committed to fighting for more resources for London and getting the best possible deal for London’s 33 councils. We develop policy, lobby government and others, and run a range of services designed to make life better for Londoners.
For press enquires contact: Stewart Henderson on 020 7934 9620 Stewart.henderson@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Fax 020 7934 9769
For non-media enquiries contact: London Councils, 59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL Tel 020 7934 9999
www.londoncouncils.gov.uk
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