Stiffer penalties imposed on illegal parking

The message on parking from the Roads Minister is that for too long law-abiding motorists and pedestrians have paid the penalty for illegal parkers.

However from the end of this month motorists who park illegally are more likely to be caught and will face tougher penalties, Roads Minister David Cairns said today.

He was speaking at the launch of a public awareness campaign to highlight the introduction of Decriminalisation of Parking Enforcement (DPE) which sees responsibility for on street parking enforcement transferred from the Police Service of Northern Ireland to the Department for Regional Development on October 30.

"Which of us has not had to endure slow and disrupted journeys because of congestion caused by those who thoughtlessly park where they shouldn't? Pedestrians and motorists alike have also had to face unnecessary dangers trying to negotiate the obstacles that illegal parkers put in their way,'' said the Minister.

"DPE will see our new traffic attendants concentrating on enforcing parking and waiting restrictions to help make our streets less congested and safer. Where necessary they will issue penalty notices of £60.

"By the twin approaches of enforcement and education we hope to encourage illegal parkers to follow the example of the vast majority of road users and park properly and avoid the need for them or indeed anyone else to pay the penalty."

The Minister also unveiled the new uniform that will be worn by traffic attendants and paid tribute to the work that many of them had carried out as traffic wardens.

Many of the former traffic wardens are transferring to the new enforcement service provider, NCP.

As part of the tougher measures clamping and impounding of vehicles will be introduced, but initially this will only be where there are outstanding fines or in cases of persistent offences.

(SP)