Changes to Parking Penalty Charge Notices

The Traffic Management Act introduces new legislation regarding parking enforcement which is effective from 31st March 2008.  Maldon District Council currently issues Penalty Charge Notices to vehicles which are parked in contravention of Traffic Regulation Orders, on-street and in public off street car parks under the powers contained in the Road Traffic Act 1991.  From March 31st this act is replaced by the Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General Regulations 2007.

The main changes brought about by these regulations is that there will be two different levels of penalty charge depending on the severity of contravention.  Currently all Penalty Charge Notices in Maldon are for £60 reduced to £30, if payment is not made later than 14 days after the date of issue of the Penalty Charge Notice.  From 31st March 2008 Penalty Charge Notices will be either £70 (higher level) or £50 (lower level), with corresponding reductions to £35 or £25 if payment is made within the 14 day period.  The level of charge which applies to different contraventions has been fixed by the Secretary of State.  With a higher level applying general where a vehicle has parked where this should not take place and the lower level where parking is allowed but the vehicle has not complied with the conditions for parking such as exceeding the maximum time limit or not displaying a Pay & Display ticket.