| Questions and Answers |
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| Q: What has happened to parking enforcement since April 2003? |
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| A: | Prior to 1st April 2003 the responsibility for enforcing waiting and loading restrictions in Basildon was the job of traffic wardens employed by Essex Police. Any driver who parked illegally (such as on a double yellow line) was issued a parking ticket. If this was not paid, the debt was pursued through the criminal court.
Essex County Council has been granted, by central government, the power to allow Basildon District Council, along with the other 11 borough / district councils in Essex that act as their agents, to enforce waiting and loading restrictions. In addition the two Essex Unitary Authorities, Southend and Thurrock have also, independently, adopted the same powers.
The powers under the new legislation have naturally followed and the whole of Essex will be subject to Civil Parking Enforcement with effect from the 31st March 2008.
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| Q: Why the change? |
| A: | The initial change to Deciminalised Parking Enforcement in April 2003 relieved Essex Police of the responsibility of enforcing parking offences.
This allowed them to concentrate their resources on more serious offences.
The transfer to the new legislation is seen as a natural progression and will automatically occur in Local Authorities already operating Decriminalised Parking Enforcement.
The new system is called Civil Parking Enforcement and calls for Councils to be more open in their activities, to treat people fairly and to be accountable for their enforcement actions.
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| Q: Can I now park where I like? |
| A: | No. The increased amount of enforcement means that you are much more likely to be caught if you park illegally.
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| Q: How much does a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) cost? |
| A: | Higher Level: £70 - £35 if paid within 14 days of service
Lower Level: £50 - £25 if paid within 14 days of service.
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| Q: How do I avoid getting a PCN? |
| A: | Don’t park illegally. Look out for the lines and signs when you park. These will tell you about any restrictions.
Visit the Essex County Council website  to see useful information about parking.
The Highway Code explains what the signs and lines mean.
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| Q: What do I do if I get a PCN? |
| A: | TThe details of what to do will be shown on the reverse of the PCN. The local authority that issued the ticket will be able to advise further if you have any problems.
PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THE PCN – IT WILL NOT GO AWAY.
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| Q: What happens if I dispute the PCN? |
| A: | Full instructions on what to do will appear on the ticket: you should at least write to the authority issuing the ticket explaining your reasons. If you do not agree with their reply, they will advise you how to take your complaint further.
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| Q: Are the new Civil Enforcement Officers different from the old Parking Attendants or Police Traffic Wardens? |
| A: | There will be very little difference between Civil Enforcement Officers and Parking Attendants. Both are employed by the Local Authority and both fulfill the same function.
However, Civil Enforcement Officers have more powers to deal with additional contraventions.
Traffic Wardens were employed by the police and had additional powers, such as the power to direct traffic, which was never transferred to the Local Authorities.
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| Q: Will Parking Attendants have targets to meet and issue PCN’s to everyone just to achieve them? |
| A: | No, there will not be a target of the number of tickets that a CEO must issue.
Parking Attendants are salaried staff and have undergone comprehensive training to achieve nationally recognised standards of competence.
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| Q: Why are local authorities, rather than the County Council, going to manage civil parking enforcement? |
| A: | Most local authorities have always enforced parking in their own car parks and some also enforced Residents’ parking and other ‘On-Street’ restrictions.
They are therefore best placed to expand their existing operation, having the expertise and equipment to do so.
Essex County Council will support its local authorities both technically and financially as required to ensure that the most efficient and cost effective service is delivered to the public.
Parking enforcement will be in accordance with the policy and practice requirements determined by Essex County Council.
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| Q: What are the benefits to me? |
| A: | Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) will:
- Keep Essex Moving. Main roads will be kept clear of illegally parked vehicles. Bus lanes, taxi ranks, disabled bays, junctions and school entrances will also be targeted, thereby improving safety and easing congestion.
- Support local Businesses. Areas of short-term parking such as outside local shops will receive more attention. As drivers will no longer be able to park illegally for longer periods it will be easier to find a space when you need it. This will also benefit local traders.
- Support Town Centre needs. Commuters and other drivers requiring long stay parking will be encouraged to use appropriate long stay car parks, freeing town centre short stay spaces and residents zones’ for drivers who need them.
- Increase Parking for residents. Residents currently paying for permits to park near their home will continue to benefit from local authority enforcement. The Parking Attendants will also be able to take action about cars that are parked on adjacent yellow lines. It is possible that more permit zones may be introduced in response to community needs to deter commuter parking.
- Increase Blue Badge benefits. Increased enforcement of parking spaces for disabled drivers will improve availability for Blue Badge holders.
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| Q: Is this another ‘stealth’ tax? |
| A: | No. Though more drivers may have to pay to park, the income from enforcement will come only from drivers who park illegally - their ‘voluntary payment’ if you like!
There are strict regulations on how the income can be spent.
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| Q: What will happen to any profits? |
| A: | Local authorities are not profit making organisations.
They are there to provide a service to the local community. Some authorities will generate a surplus both from drivers who park illegally and those who pay to park.
Any surplus will be used by the authority to improve traffic conditions and must be spent in accordance with legislation.
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| Q: Why aren’t there more car parks? |
| A: | Drivers may not always get a space in the car park of their choice.
However, all local authorities have additional space available at alternative car parks.
The integrated management of both off-street and on- street parking helps to identify where more spaces are required.
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| Q: Why don’t commuters benefit? |
| A: | They do. Commuters continue to pay to park as before, but will find that using the main routes through the town will be easier.
Also, in time, surpluses may be spent on initiatives to help commuters such as Park & Ride.
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| Q: Will these changes mean local businesses suffer? |
| A: | No. Areas of short-term parking such as outside local shops will receive more attention.
As drivers will no longer be able to park illegally for longer periods it will be easier to find a space when you need it. This will also benefit local traders.
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| Q: What will happen to Residents’ Permit Parking schemes? |
| A: | Nothing, they will remain as they are.
The local authority controls these and you should apply for a permit in the usual way through the car parks office.
Residents currently paying for permits to park near their home will continue to benefit from Local Authority enforcement and it is possible that more permit zones may be introduced, in response to community needs to deter commuter parking.
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| Q: How will this affect Care Workers employed by Social Services? |
| A: | Care Workers who need to visit clients as part of their job may be eligible for a special permit.
They should ask their employer to contact the relevant Borough or District Council Parking Office for details.
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