Freight group welcomes 'common sense' parking fine changes
Date: 03 August 2007
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed new rules that will allow for more common sense in the application of parking enforcement relating to logistics vehicles.
Coming into effect in March 2008, regulations under the Traffic Management Act 2004 will give parking adjudicators more powers in recognising when there are mitigating circumstances that have led to parking transgressions.
"These amended regulations will result in a huge benefit for commercial vehicle operators and their drivers," said Natalie Chapman of the FTA.
"The increased powers now with the adjudicators will, we hope, lead to the application of common sense when dealing with vehicles which have obviously been in the process of collecting or delivering, to the benefit of businesses and their customers."
The rules will also increase the time period allowed to pay the discounted rate for early settlement from 14 to 21 days. The time allowed to make formal representations will be similarly extended.
This will be particularly useful at a time when more and more parking fines are sent by post because CCTV is being increasingly used to enforce parking rules. In many cases parking fines are sent to company head offices and it takes time for them to reach the driver in question.
A three-week period will make it easier for freight haulage operators and others to deal with the fines before the amount doubles.
Freight haulage operators wishing to appeal Penalty Charge Notices need to contact the local council.
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