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Traffic Management Act 2004

Civil Parking Enforcement

The Traffic Management Act 2004 introduces a number of major changes to parking enforcement:

• the Council's Parking Attendants will become Civil Enforcement Officers
• introduces differential penalty charges for more serious contraventions
• motorists who drive away before the Penalty Charge Notice is fixed to the windscreen or who threaten the Civil Enforcement Officers may receive the Penalty Charge Notice through the post
• new Powers to issue Penalty Charge Notices for the following contraventions
• parking on Pedestrian Crossing Zig Zags

The levels of the penalty charges have been set by Surrey County Council (Highways Authority) and the Borough Council in accordance with government's statutory guidance. For example the main difference that will affect drivers will be:

• parking on yellow lines the penalty will be increased to £70 reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days
• overstaying in a car park will be reduced to £50 discounted to £25 if paid within 14 days.

The purpose of parking enforcement is to deter illegal parking, improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. The level of the penalty charge has been set to achieve greater compliance but recognizes the fact that many residents feel that overstaying in a car park is a less serious contravention. The aim of the Traffic Management Act is to promote better and more transparent parking enforcement across the borough.