New Parking Laws in England and Wales - Effective from March 2008

At the end of March 2008 new parking regulations are coming into force which could spell chaos and confusion for drivers in the UK.

Read our guide to the Traffic Management Act and make sure you don’t get caught out.

What's Happening?

On March 31, a new parking system is being introduced in England which according to the government makes parking penalties more transparent and fair. However motoring experts are worried that most drivers won't understand the new rules, leading to more drivers being penalised and facing heavy fines.

Some areas are going to see a rise of 20% for more serious breaches, and the National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS) say that they expect the number of fines to soar as drivers struggle to understand the new regulations. In 2005 alone over 8 million parking tickets were given out in England and Wales, leading to hundreds of millions of pounds paid out by drivers in penalties.

How Will the New System Work?

The new Traffic Management Act will consist of several different levels of fine which will be determined by the offence and where it takes place. THere will be five bands which make up 2 levels - lower and higher. One of the five bands will be applied to every local authority in England, who will then apply the penalties to drivers who fall foul of the new rules, the severity of the penalty depending on the offence that they commit.

Experts from the Automobile Association (the AA), have suggested that under the new Traffic Management Act 75% of offences committed will be classified as 'serious' - which includes such breaches as parking in a disabled bay when not permitted, or on double yellow lines. Non-serious offences include staying too long in a pay-and-display bay.

So What are the Charges?

The new charges (outside London) will be split into Band A and Band B. Motorists in these areas will see lower offences dropping to £50 but those classed as more serious offences, rising from £60 to £70.

Outside London

Band A: where previously £60 for all breaches: Higher tier breaches will be £70, the lower tier breaches £50

Band B: where previously £50 for all breaches: Higher tier breaches will be £60, the lower tier breaches £40

London

London already runs on a 3 band system which will see fines for lesser breaches drop to £80, but more serious breaches will rise to £120.

Band A: where previously £100 for all breaches: Higher tier breaches will be £120, the lower tier breaches £80

Band B: where previously £80 for all breaches: Higher tier breaches will be £100, the lower tier breaches £60

Band C: where previously £60 for all breaches: Higher tier breaches will be £80, the lower tier breaches £40

Other Changes Taking Place

When the new rules are introduced, the changes will allow councils to:

• Penalise motorists who park against dropped kerbs
• Penalise motorists who park too far away from the pavement
• Send out fines by post if evidence is caught on CCTV
• Issue fines to motorists as they drive away (Currently a traffic warden issued ticket must be physically placed on the car to be valid)

There is a small consolation to motorists though - they will have a little more time to pay the reduced amount for parking fines – the new rules will change the time limit for paying fines by post from 14 days to 21.

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