Haringey sees significant drop in parking fines
Thursday 14 August 2008
The number of parking fines issued by Haringey Council has fallen significantly in just 12 months, new figures show.
The figures released today (Thursday 14 August) by London Councils show the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued by Haringey Council fell by almost 5,000 from 2006-07 to 2007-08, from 203,183 to 198,247.
The most notable drop was for driving in bus lanes, with fines falling from 16,671 in 2006-07 to 6,964 in 2007-08.
The figures also show that the council's main focus has been on motorists committing higher level parking offences.
Since the introduction of a two tier parking charge system by London Councils in July 2007, Haringey Council has issued 103,984 PCNs for more serious parking offences (such as parking illegally on yellow lines, on the pavement or on zebra crossings), and 18,927 PCNs for lower level offences, such as staying too long in a pay and display bay.
The figures come after the council's parking service was named national Enforcement Team of the Year at the British Parking Awards 2008.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Conservation, Cllr Brian Haley, said:
"We endeavour to be firm but fair at all times when it comes to parking enforcement. At the same time, we're working hard to try to ensure residents are aware of the rules and stick to them.
"The drop in the number of tickets we're issuing suggests this approach is starting to have an effect. The fall in bus lane fines is particularly pleasing because it means quicker journey times for our buses.
"We will continue to issue PCNs against those who park illegally in our borough. But we'll also continue to publicise parking rules and regulations, so that we can focus on those who wilfully break the law by leaving their cars in places which are dangerous or which hold up other traffic.
"We will also continue to encourage those motorists who believe they've been wrongly fined to go through the appeals process. Our parking attendants are human and occasionally mistakes will be made, and it's right that people should challenge those tickets."
The figures follow a range of measures by Haringey Council to make parking enforcement fairer for residents, in line with London-wide guidelines and government legislation.
These include:
- No clamping of vehicles
- Vehicles are only towed away if they are judged to be causing an obstruction
- Drivers parking in pay and display bays are given five minutes' grace after ticket has expired before any PCN is issued
- Civil enforcement officers (as parking attendants are now known) are instructed to watch any vehicles parked on yellow lines for at least five minutes before issuing a ticket, to ensure there are no reasons why a PCN should not be issued
Haringey's website features a "tips on sensible parking" page, offering a range of practical information for drivers in the borough, such as rules on parking on pavements, on single yellow lines and in pay and display bays.
The web page, which can be found at www.haringey.gov.uk/sensible_parking, also provides information on the meaning of various signs and road markings, what to do if a parking meter is faulty and how you can apply for a "waiver" to allow you to load and unload while parked on yellow lines.
Haringey Council also offers a telephone parking information service to visitors to the borough, giving advice on where restrictions are in place and the best places to park. The service, which can be reached on 0845 073 1234, is available from 8am to 6pm on Mondays and Fridays and until 8pm from Tuesday to Thursday.
More details on how to appeal against a PCN can be found at www.haringey.gov.uk/parking_tickets.
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