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Parking in tough revamp
NEW tougher parking penalties are being introduced in Dorset that will see problem parkers paying out more in fines.
The new parking rules will come into force on Monday, March 31 - meaning that civil enforcement officers (CEO), formerly known as traffic wardens and parking attendants will have tougher powers.
Under the Traffic Management Act the existing £60 parking fine will be scrapped and replaced with a two-tier system that depends on the seriousness of the offence.
Drivers who overstay their parking time will be issued a £50 fine but motorists caught parking in disabled bays, on double yellow lines or blocking junctions will be issued a £70 fine.
Drivers caught parking on or near crossings or on a dropped kerb will also be issued with a fine.
The time limit for paying fines will increase from 14 days to 21 and the fines will be halved if they are paid within a fortnight.
Bernadette Wallis, a parking services manager at Dorset Country Council, said these changes were the first major overhaul of parking charges in many years.
She said: "The changes mean that those people parking on double yellow lines or in a disabled parking space when they are not disabled will get a heavier fine than those who have overstayed on their parking.
"We will continue to enforce normal bread and butter contraventions that irritate everybody like when people stop outside a shop for what they say is just a few minutes - but ends up stopping a bus and blocking the road."
As part of the new rules there will be two circumstances in which fine notices can be sent through the post to the motorist.
The first is if motorists drive off and the second is if the CEO feels threatened in any way by the motorist.
Mrs Wallis said that the CEOs could use their new handheld computer systems to record conversations.
She added: "If a CEO feels threatened in any way they are not obliged to issue a ticket on the spot so in the occasion we have safeguards in place to get further information and issue a ticket through the post."
She added: "It's no longer the choice of the man or woman on the street what fine will be given because our automated IT system will issue the fine depending on the offence."
The long-term plan for rural Dorset includes a plan to install camera at junctions in places where there is no
CCTV in order to catch more offenders.
8:55am Monday 24th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: maximus, Weymouth on 9:16am Mon 24 Mar 08
[quote][bold]The long-term plan for rural Dorset includes a plan to install camera at junctions in places where there is no CCTV in order to catch more offenders[/bold][/quote]
Come back George Orwell, all is forgiven.
The long-term plan for rural Dorset includes a plan to install camera at junctions in places where there is no CCTV in order to catch more offenders
Come back George Orwell, all is forgiven.
Posted by: tiger, preston on 9:21am Mon 24 Mar 08
[quote]The time limit for paying fines will increase from 14 days to 21 and the fines will be halved if they are paid within a fortnight[/quote]
[bold]Currently payment of a PCN is due within 28 days.[/bold] [quote]The long-term plan for rural Dorset includes a plan to install camera at junctions in places where there is no CCTV in order to catch more offenders.[/quote]
[bold]bold[/bold]
What happened to the old excuse of safety, it just goes to show that it is all about revenue after all.
Drivers caught parking on or near crossings or on a dropped kerb will also be issued with a fine.
CEO's outside schools now - that should boost the revenue.
The time limit for paying fines will increase from 14 days to 21 and the fines will be halved if they are paid within a fortnight
Currently payment of a PCN is due within 28 days. The long-term plan for rural Dorset includes a plan to install camera at junctions in places where there is no CCTV in order to catch more offenders.
What happened to the old excuse of safety, it just goes to show that it is all about revenue after all.
Drivers caught parking on or near crossings or on a dropped kerb will also be issued with a fine.
CEO's outside schools now - that should boost the revenue.
Posted by: Dorset Guy, Bridport on 11:04am Mon 24 Mar 08
[quote][bold]tiger[/bold] wrote:
[quote]The time limit for paying fines will increase from 14 days to 21 and the fines will be halved if they are paid within a fortnight[/quote] [bold]Currently payment of a PCN is due within 28 days.[/bold] [quote]The long-term plan for rural Dorset includes a plan to install camera at junctions in places where there is no CCTV in order to catch more offenders.[/quote] [bold]bold[/bold] What happened to the old excuse of safety, it just goes to show that it is all about revenue after all. Drivers caught parking on or near crossings or on a dropped kerb will also be issued with a fine. CEO's outside schools now - that should boost the revenue. [/quote] Not sure if School Zig Zags are included in this but it would be good if they did parents who dont think their children should walk 100 metres from car to school need some encouragement
tiger wrote:
The time limit for paying fines will increase from 14 days to 21 and the fines will be halved if they are paid within a fortnight
Currently payment of a PCN is due within 28 days. The long-term plan for rural Dorset includes a plan to install camera at junctions in places where there is no CCTV in order to catch more offenders.
What happened to the old excuse of safety, it just goes to show that it is all about revenue after all. Drivers caught parking on or near crossings or on a dropped kerb will also be issued with a fine. CEO's outside schools now - that should boost the revenue.
Not sure if School Zig Zags are included in this but it would be good if they did parents who dont think their children should walk 100 metres from car to school need some encouragement
Posted by: yogi, weymouth on 11:24am Mon 24 Mar 08
Will this include white vans who for some reason or another can park were ever they like as long as two wheels are on pavements as well
Will this include white vans who for some reason or another can park were ever they like as long as two wheels are on pavements as well
Posted by: JamesY, Dorchester on 12:03pm Mon 24 Mar 08
Meanwhile no doubt Bernadette will continue to enjoy free parking at County Hall.
I think before any complaint of threatening behaviour is accepted, the CEO should have to produce the video/audio evidence. If what passes as threats in the NHS/civil service these days is accepted from these fellows we'll all be in trouble.
Meanwhile no doubt Bernadette will continue to enjoy free parking at County Hall.
I think before any complaint of threatening behaviour is accepted, the CEO should have to produce the video/audio evidence. If what passes as threats in the NHS/civil service these days is accepted from these fellows we'll all be in trouble.
Posted by: Westie, West Dorset on 12:30pm Mon 24 Mar 08
"Civil Enforcement Officers" sounds like a very important person.... nay, tis only a Traffic Warden afterall. Just where will all this end ? the motorist forever being the easy target, now we have all these additional ways of 'catching' you. Very swiftly moving to Big Brother.
DORSET GUY... if you ckeck in the Highway Code, you will see that is already an offence to park within confines of zig zag markings, makes no difference if outside of a school or a pedestrian crossing. I know this rule gets broken and nothing gets done about it. Bridport has its parking problems, look how many times you see a 'trade' or 'delivery' vehicle half parked on the pavement, many times the whole vehicle. This is really noticeable on market days, stall holders being main culprits... anything ever done, yes you are correct, NOTHING.[quote]quote[/quote]
"Civil Enforcement Officers" sounds like a very important person.... nay, tis only a Traffic Warden afterall. Just where will all this end ? the motorist forever being the easy target, now we have all these additional ways of 'catching' you. Very swiftly moving to Big Brother.
DORSET GUY... if you ckeck in the Highway Code, you will see that is already an offence to park within confines of zig zag markings, makes no difference if outside of a school or a pedestrian crossing. I know this rule gets broken and nothing gets done about it. Bridport has its parking problems, look how many times you see a 'trade' or 'delivery' vehicle half parked on the pavement, many times the whole vehicle. This is really noticeable on market days, stall holders being main culprits... anything ever done, yes you are correct, NOTHING.
quote
Posted by: maximus, Weymouth on 12:42pm Mon 24 Mar 08
I have been to Bridport on market day to find that traders have taken over the disabled parking bays in South Street and nothing is done about it.
I have been to Bridport on market day to find that traders have taken over the disabled parking bays in South Street and nothing is done about it.
Posted by: Sidney Hall, Nearby on 2:54pm Mon 24 Mar 08
We drove down the quay yesterday. Traffic was very heavy, waiting to get up by the Golden Lion and onto Town Bridge.
Then we saw why.
A blue badge user parked outside the Golden Lion!! What a daft place!! Queue from the bridge stuck trying to get round it. Queue from the quay struggling to turn. You can picture it can't you?
Can we add an additional layer of fines for ignorance and stupidity?
Bring on the fines I say. I am fed up of the whining of all the "special cases" who always have an excuse to park anywhere at any time.
Note - genuine blue badge users with their brains intact are, and will continue to be exempt from this.
We drove down the quay yesterday. Traffic was very heavy, waiting to get up by the Golden Lion and onto Town Bridge.
Then we saw why.
A blue badge user parked outside the Golden Lion!! What a daft place!! Queue from the bridge stuck trying to get round it. Queue from the quay struggling to turn. You can picture it can't you?
Can we add an additional layer of fines for ignorance and stupidity?
Bring on the fines I say. I am fed up of the whining of all the "special cases" who always have an excuse to park anywhere at any time.
Note - genuine blue badge users with their brains intact are, and will continue to be exempt from this.
Posted by: Xcabie, Weymouth on 10:29pm Mon 24 Mar 08
The Dropped Curb law seems to have changed as well. One used to be able to park by a dropped curb if you had permission (house owner etc.) but not now it seems.
The Dropped Curb law seems to have changed as well. One used to be able to park by a dropped curb if you had permission (house owner etc.) but not now it seems.
Posted by: Xcabie, Weymouth on 10:37pm Mon 24 Mar 08
[quote][bold]yogi[/bold] wrote:
Will this include white vans who for some reason or another can park were ever they like as long as two wheels are on pavements as well[/quote] No. Nor scaffold lorries, Coaches on the Seafront forcing you into oncoming traffic, Taxis, Private Hire or Blue Badge holders. Oh and anyone taking children to school.
yogi wrote:
Will this include white vans who for some reason or another can park were ever they like as long as two wheels are on pavements as well
No. Nor scaffold lorries, Coaches on the Seafront forcing you into oncoming traffic, Taxis, Private Hire or Blue Badge holders. Oh and anyone taking children to school.
Posted by: Wessex Lass, Dorchester on 4:59pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Is this now saying that I can no longer park by the dropped kerb to my drive way? Instead if my husbands car in on our drive (only room for one, not posh here) will I have to park oustide someone elses house in future and annoy them? Seems like an excellent money making scheme.
Is this now saying that I can no longer park by the dropped kerb to my drive way? Instead if my husbands car in on our drive (only room for one, not posh here) will I have to park oustide someone elses house in future and annoy them? Seems like an excellent money making scheme.
Posted by: local resident, weymouh on 5:50pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Just do what they do in Portland Road. Park on the pavement 24/7 or just for 10 mins while you do your shopping. Nobody bothers them. I havent seen a traffic warden in this road for the last 10 years. Probably not cash viable.
Just do what they do in Portland Road. Park on the pavement 24/7 or just for 10 mins while you do your shopping. Nobody bothers them. I havent seen a traffic warden in this road for the last 10 years. Probably not cash viable.
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