05/08/2003

DRD to deal with illegal parking

The Government have announced plans to change the current laws on parking and waiting restrictions in Northern Ireland.

Launching the consultation document, 'Parking Enforcement in Northern Ireland', NIO Minister, John Spellar said the proposals would include changing the status of illegal parking from criminal offences enforced by the PSNI to civil offences that will be enforced by the Department for Regional Development (DRD).

This follows the decision taken by the PSNI to withdraw from the enforcement of on-street parking restrictions to enable policing resources to be focused on areas of greater policing priority including road safety.

The Minister said: “It is proposed that the responsibility for enforcement of on street parking and waiting restrictions will pass from the PSNI to DRD and the proposed changes will bring enforcement into line with arrangements in other parts of the UK.

“The new arrangements will have many benefits for road users throughout Northern Ireland including a reduction in the number of illegally parked vehicles and related traffic congestion, an improvement in road safety and the opportunity to introduce residents’ parking schemes."

Chief Inspector Brian Kee, Acting Head of the PSNI's Road Policing Development Branch added: "The PSNI welcomes the publication of this consultation document on parking enforcement. We look forward to working with the Department for Regional Development's Roads Service on these proposals following receipt of responses to the consultation exercise."

It is hoped that if the new proposals are passed by law they can be implemented by mid 2006.

(MB)

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