London introduces first city-wide two tier scheme for penalising illegal parking
A new parking penalty scheme has been introduced in London which will see motorists fined according to the seriousness of the offence.
The scheme will mean drivers parking at bus stops, on pedestrian crossings, or in the safety zones outside schools will receive a higher penalty than those overstaying at a parking meter.
A 120 penalty will be applied to serious contraventions in central London, while lesser contraventions will attract a penalty of 80. In outer London the penalty will be 100 and 60. All penalties will be reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days.
This new system will mean that motorists committing some parking contraventions will receive a 20 lower penalty then they currently do.
The introduction of the scheme follows an extensive consultation with the public, motoring organisations and other interested parties carried out last year by London Councils and Transport for London (TfL).
More than 80 per cent of those who responded to the consultation said that acts of illegal parking causing the most disruption, frustration and danger to other road users should be penalised more heavily than others.
Chairman of London Councils Transport and Environment Committee, Cllr Daniel Moylan, said:
Illegal parking prevents people from having a hassle free and safe journey on Londons roads. This is why we have to carry out parking enforcement.
Ensuring the right balance is struck between being firm and being fair has always been a challenge, but I believe this new two-tier scheme helps us to meet both of these objectives.
It tackles the concerns of Londoners who feel it is unfair that a motorist overstaying at a parking meter for a few minutes received the same penalty as someone causing gridlock by blocking a busy junction.
However it also sends a clear message to those whose illegal parking causes the most disruption that their actions will not be tolerated.
Motorists wrongly using bus lanes or committing moving traffic contraventions - including entering a box junction when their exits are blocked and going through a no entry sign - will receive a 120 penalty from 1 July.
Lorry company operators and drivers breaking the London Lorry Control Scheme will also receive 550 and 120 penalties respectively from 1 July.
A 120 penalty will be applied to serious contraventions in central London, while lesser contraventions will attract a penalty of 80. In outer London the penalty will be 100 and 60. All penalties will be reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days.
This new system will mean that motorists committing some parking contraventions will receive a 20 lower penalty then they currently do.
The introduction of the scheme follows an extensive consultation with the public, motoring organisations and other interested parties carried out last year by London Councils and Transport for London (TfL).
More than 80 per cent of those who responded to the consultation said that acts of illegal parking causing the most disruption, frustration and danger to other road users should be penalised more heavily than others.
Chairman of London Councils Transport and Environment Committee, Cllr Daniel Moylan, said:
Illegal parking prevents people from having a hassle free and safe journey on Londons roads. This is why we have to carry out parking enforcement.
Ensuring the right balance is struck between being firm and being fair has always been a challenge, but I believe this new two-tier scheme helps us to meet both of these objectives.
It tackles the concerns of Londoners who feel it is unfair that a motorist overstaying at a parking meter for a few minutes received the same penalty as someone causing gridlock by blocking a busy junction.
However it also sends a clear message to those whose illegal parking causes the most disruption that their actions will not be tolerated.
Motorists wrongly using bus lanes or committing moving traffic contraventions - including entering a box junction when their exits are blocked and going through a no entry sign - will receive a 120 penalty from 1 July.
Lorry company operators and drivers breaking the London Lorry Control Scheme will also receive 550 and 120 penalties respectively from 1 July.
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