Council takes control of parking penalties from police

Report by Alex Evans, Reporter Tuesday, May 29, 2012
1:00 PM

PARKING on double yellow lines will no longer be a criminal offence in Somerset from next month as the county makes the switch to civil parking enforcement.

From June 11, parking on restriction lines or in loading bays in areas of Somerset will no longer be dealt with by Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Instead, officers from Somerset County Council will issue fines.

The council will also take responsibility for issuing tickets in off-street car parks and on-street parking bays, as well as doling out penalties for those parking in resident-only zones.

The fines will be set at £50-70, reduced to half if paid within 14 days – with the higher bracket reserved for more serious offences such as parking on double yellows or in restricted areas.

There will also be a £60 fine for misusing bus lanes.

Currently, police tickets for parking on double yellow lines are just £30.

Sedgemoor District Council, which was in charge of off-street car parks in Somerset, said it had passed responsibility to Somerset County Council in order to save money, improve efficiency and make it less confusing for the public because only one authority will deal with all parking issues.

Several councillors from North Somerset have been pushing North Somerset Council to follow suit and take over responsibility for double yellows from police.

Cllr John Crockford-Hawley said at a council meeting last month that police do not currently enforce yellow line parking in Weston, which he said put the effectiveness of the authority’s new pay-and-display scheme in jeopardy.

He said motorists would choose to flout yellow lines rather than pay for parking and called on the authority to follow Somerset County Council’s example and take on responsibility for civil enforcement.

12 comments

Without seeing the results of a survey I will have to take your word for it. Just wondering, where do they park now?

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Neptune

Sunday, June 3, 2012
Neptune it is not possible as there are not enough parking bays to give all residents free parking.

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Nigel c

Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sorry, I omitted to say that the signs would have to be worded so people understand that residents have control over parking (in return of free permits). 45 minutes was just a suggestion

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Neptune

Sunday, June 3, 2012
There are already signs indicating a one hour maximum limit, but everyone ignores them. How does changing to 45 minutes help?!

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2Phat

Saturday, June 2, 2012
I wonder if it might be an idea to give the residents free parking permits in return for reporting anti social parking, signs could go up stating a 45 minute parking time, which would be cheaper than having more expensive equipment. Never happen I know, not whilst we have a council with one brain and one thought. I'm worried about that Free word though.

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Neptune

Thursday, May 31, 2012
At least it seems Somerset have taken a stance on parking, instead of a bunch of loonys spending £1000's on machines with no one to monitor it!

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TrueWestonian

Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Utterly baffling comments. I wish NSC would take over parking enforcement but that's not what this story is about.

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2Phat

Wednesday, May 30, 2012
If this council ran a pub it could only ever serve half a pint - and that would probably be expensive, flat, cloudy and no doubt they would charge you for the glass which would be dirty.

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keith

Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I Have to agree with Nigel C, Sorry Gruff and others but, the article refers to Somerset County Council, not the tin pot brigade of NSC

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Neptune

Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Totally agree with gruf69 - ANYTHING nsc touch, turns out to be chaos which we, the taxpayer normally have to foot the bill for. Once to initially pay for, and then secondly to put it right! NSC............ Council running at its worst!

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nsc_wasteofspace

Tuesday, May 29, 2012
It’s always great to read such positive, constructive comments posted here. Especially by people who might want to actually read what it says in the article before making them.

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Nigel c

Tuesday, May 29, 2012
nsc taking over cant wait to see this its going to be a parking free for all and what about vans double parking ..... its going to be a shambles as per usuel that nsc has anything to do with

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gruf69

Tuesday, May 29, 2012