Fine threat for distant parkers
Discussion
BBC website said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3382137.stm
Fine threat for distant parkers
Parking wardens may need a ruler for their job
Drivers who park too far from the kerb could soon face fines, it has emerged. The proposals, under the new Traffic Management Act, are designed to crackdown on double parking.
Councils could target problem areas and give traffic wardens the power to put tickets on vehicles parked more than 50cm from the roadside.
Paul Watters, head of the AA Motoring Trust's roads and transport policy, said the measure made sense but needed to be enforced with discretion.
Consultation
A department of transport spokeswoman said while the power already exists in London, it would only be introduced in other areas of the country in streets or districts where double-parking was causing a problem.
"There's no question of this coming into effect across the whole country as soon as the bill becomes law," she said.
The transport secretary would have to approve any application for a designated parking enforcement area - and only after a period of public consultation.
The spokeswoman was unable to confirm reports that fines for bad parking could cost motorists £100 a time.
The bill, which will give traffic wardens powers to fine drivers who jump red light or illegally block junctions, has already attracted controversy.
'Doomsday scenario'
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling introduced the jam-busting measures earlier this week, insisting that police time would be freed up by switching powers to local councils.
Mr Watters said he feared the double parking rule "might fall down in its application".
"For the motorist it conjures up a doomsday scenario of people with tape measures which takes it to the extreme.
"It's one thing if it causes a major problem and another if it's a minor glitch.
"We don't want people being fined for being 50.1cm away from the kerb.
"In the old days, when traffic wardens used their discretion and weren't necessarily expected to issue so many tickets, it would have been plain to see by the eye what was good and what was acceptable in terms of parking."
Interpretation
RAC spokeswoman Rebecca Bell said it made sense for people to try to tuck their cars in close to the kerb so they did not cause an obstruction and there was less likelihood of it being clipped by another vehicle.
"Fifty centimetres is almost twice a school ruler so we would think most motorists wouldn't have a problem at all," she said.
"But there has to be some level of interpretation of what's appropriate to parking."
Ms Bell said the measure would be useful if it stopped drivers parking badly on both sides of narrow city streets.
But she said it might not be sensible to enforce it in rural areas with wide roads.
Another stealth tax managed by our friends the traffic wardens. I wonder whether 50.1cm will be deemed worthy of a £100 fine, or whether a "10%+2cm" leeway will be permitted? What is Britain coming to?
???cazzo said:
What if the front's 49cm and the back 51cm?
Is it it done on average or 'peak'?
I mean some people can't park for shit but what a load of bollocks, What's next - a NIP for stepping on the cracks in the pavement? FFS
Theres another thread so excuse the cross posting. It was on the radio on the way home. It's measured from the wing mirror, and it's supposed to be to stop double parking (how????). £100 in Central London, where apparently it's already law, and £60 everywhere else.
cazzo said:
Theres another thread so excuse the cross posting. It was on the radio on the way home. It's measured from the wing mirror, and it's supposed to be to stop double parking (how????). £100 in Central London, where apparently it's already law, and £60 everywhere else.
Wing mirror eh? I think I may have the perfect solution to this problem...
I understand that you might get a ticket in London for parking slightly outside the bay that your parked in already.
It's hardly supprising that the Traffic wardens are so hot off the mark when there's 3 differant contract companies working the area all on comission, it's a race to get there first! If what I was told is correct.
It's hardly supprising that the Traffic wardens are so hot off the mark when there's 3 differant contract companies working the area all on comission, it's a race to get there first! If what I was told is correct.
Unnamed DFT spokeswoman said:Or where revenues need to be increased.
A department of transport spokeswoman said while the power already exists in London, it would only be introduced in other areas of the country in streets or districts where double-parking was causing a problem.
BTW - why isn't it sexist to describe them as a "spokeswoman"?
Unnamed DFT spokeswoman said:So it's a given that it will.
"There's no question of this coming into effect across the whole country as soon as the bill becomes law," she said.
Unnamed DFT spokeswoman said:Which will be as short as they are allowed, over a holiday period and coinciding with the publication of the Hutton Report or similar "Good-day-to-hide-bad-news" day.
The transport secretary would have to approve any application for a designated parking enforcement area - and only after a period of public consultation.
Unnamed DFT spokeswoman said:So that's another a given then. Of course, it might be more than £100.
The spokeswoman was unable to confirm reports that fines for bad parking could cost motorists £100 a time.
Mr Watters AA Motoring Trust said:How naive! I'm sure they'll be issued with EU-approved 50cm measures.
"For the motorist it conjures up a doomsday scenario of people with tape measures which takes it to the extreme."
Reg 33(1)(c) MV (Con and Use) Regs 1986 OFFENCE
Where bottom edge of external mirror is less than 2 metres above road surface, mirror shall not project more than 20cm beyond overall width of vehicle.
Section 40A Road Traffic Act, 1988 OFFENCE
Parts and accessories in such condition as likely to damage/injury to any persons.
Book him Tony......
DVD
Where bottom edge of external mirror is less than 2 metres above road surface, mirror shall not project more than 20cm beyond overall width of vehicle.
Section 40A Road Traffic Act, 1988 OFFENCE
Parts and accessories in such condition as likely to damage/injury to any persons.
Book him Tony......
DVD
Of course we should be able to park within 50cm of the kerb. I can't say I ever remember seeing anyone parking quite so badly that they were more than 50cm from the kerb.
But that's not the point. It's that it's now not only an offence, but one with a huge fine enforced by civilians who have targets, objectives, challenges, etc.
It's been turned from common sense into a regulation. There are so many other possible sources of government funding that this could have been ignored. What about middle-lane hogging, turning without indicating, indicating right then going straight on at roundabouts, using fog lights in the rain, etc, etc? Sensible drivers would support these. But a fine of £100 just for parking badly?!
But that's not the point. It's that it's now not only an offence, but one with a huge fine enforced by civilians who have targets, objectives, challenges, etc.
It's been turned from common sense into a regulation. There are so many other possible sources of government funding that this could have been ignored. What about middle-lane hogging, turning without indicating, indicating right then going straight on at roundabouts, using fog lights in the rain, etc, etc? Sensible drivers would support these. But a fine of £100 just for parking badly?!
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