By the mid-1980s, London municipalities argued that enforcement of parking regulations should be transferred to them. This was enacted as part of the 1991 Road Traffic Act. The Act's provisions are: London municipalities have the duty of enforcing parking regulations in permitted areas; they have powers to enforce other parking regulations in special parking areas; parking offences are decriminalised; wheelclamping and towing away are possible throughout London; municipalities retain all penalty income; a new appeal system for disputes; streamlined court procedure for debt recovery. If penalty is paid within 14 days of issue of penalty charge notice (PCN), 50% discount is available; after 28 days notice to pay is sent to owner; if unpaid after further 28 days, penalty is increased by 50%; after 21 further days, the debt is registered in court; after further 14 days warrant is issued for seizure of goods. There are three levels of penalties for different parts of London, £60, £40 and £30. In 1994/95, 2.1m PCN were issued, and the forecast for 1995/96 is 3.4m PCN. This compares with 1.9m issued by traffic wardens in 1991. During 1994/95, 34,000 vehicles were clamped and a further 34,000 towed away.
Samenvatting