The Price of Progress --- Parking

New parking rules will come into force on All Fools Day: April 1st. There will be no more Traffic Wardens. Before you cheer, they will be renamed 'Civil Enforcement Officers' which you may quite reasonably feel has an ominous ring about it. It seems they are being set up for a future role where they may be used to enforce newly decriminalised environmental offences.

No, this is not a spoof story. Motorists and others may well feel that they are being set up for yet another costly hammering. Are we in danger of having yet another layer of imposed authority with the former Wardens getting powers to act against people dropping litter, throwing down cigarette ends, making too much noise, walking without due care and attention?

There will also be change in the penalty tariff. Following the Traffic Management Act 2004, and various new regulations, parking fines will feature a two tier system with a £70 fine for such serious offences as parking on double yellow lines, to £50 for lesser charges such as offences committed in car parks.

The half tariff for payment received within 14 days continues and could be extended in certain circumstances.

A 'Civil Enforcement Officer' will also, for the first time, be allowed to issue a
completed penalty notice by post if the Officer has started, but not finished, issuing it.

This could be used against those who, having committed an offence drive off swiftly before the notice is placed on the windscreen, or who threaten the Officer.

Basildon Council says it "aims to ensure that its high standards of enforcement and customer care continue to operate under the new regulations. It welcomes the new rules which" it claims "should make parking fairer and clearer for everyone."