Proposal to decriminalise parking offences

Parking offences may be decriminalized according to the Minister responsible for Roads Services Peter Robinson.

Currently members of the public who commit parking offences could be prosecuted under criminal legislation.

However the Department of Regional Development and the Police Service of Northern Ireland have now begun the process of making illegal parking a civil, rather than a criminal offence.

The police have said their resources are more geared towards the enforcement of speeding offences, drink driving and the wearing of seatbelts rather than enforcing traffic regulations.

Enforcement of current parking regulations makes up the bulk of duties of Traffic Wardens who operate out of police stations across the province and are employed by the PSNI.

The introduction of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) is a highly complex matter according to Mr Robinson, and with the need to develop primary legislation powers it means that the process will take in excess of three years to implement.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that does not have the primary legislation to allow DPE.

Mr Robinson said: “On-street parking violations are currently criminal offences enforceable by the police. However, enforcement of traffic regulations is no longer considered by police to be a core function and they say that available resources are being targeted at road safety.

“The Roads Service has recently appointed a Specialist Advisor to help co-ordinate the programme for implementing DPE at the earliest legislative opportunity,” he added. (AMcE)