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Decriminalised Parking Enforcement

DPE is a phrase given to the civil enforcement of car parking regulations. As a rule, the local authorities operate it in the United Kingdom.

The role of the Decriminalised Parking Enforcement inside and outside of London has become more commonplace.

An increasing number of local traffic authority regulators are taking part in this system.

In most cases, they assume the responsibility of enforcing some parking contraventions. They take on this role instead of leaving it the police forces.

Civil enforcement of car parking regulations and penalties gets carried out by officers.

They operate on behalf of their local authority or in some circumstances, a private firm or a group of companies.

It involves the decriminalisation of contraventions administered by local councils in controlled parking zones (CPZ). The governance of these ‘yellow routes‘ materialised via the Road Traffic Act 1991.

Self-ticketing enforcement takes place through various means. One method is councils employing specified parking attendants. While, others will contract their on-street prosecution to private entities.


Traffic Penalty Tribunal

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal are impartial and independent adjudicators. They consider appeals against penalties which get issued for minor parking offences.

Often, these will be bus-lane and moving traffic contraventions outside of London in England and Wales. It also includes penalties issued for failing to pay a required charge at the Dartford River crossing.


Parking and Traffic Appeals Service

The Parking and Traffic Appeals Service operate inside the borough of London. They administer the independent tribunals established to hear individual appeals against Penalty Charge Notices. PCNs get issued by the London Local Authorities and Transport for London.


Decriminalizing Parking Enforcement Rationale

There is one principle rationale and motive behind this provision. It is to ensure that individuals avoid getting criminalized from minor car parking and driving offences.

Even so, police enforcement remains a standard part of traffic laws in the United Kingdom. They still issue fines, penalty points, and criminal proceedings for some wrongdoings.

Typical offences which remain enforced by police traffic wardens include contraventions committed in red routes. These are routes identified by red lines marked on the roads, with nearby time plate signage.

Enforcement also continues for parked vehicles on pedestrian zig-zags and crossings. This applies to both red and yellow routes.


ALSO IN THIS SECTION

Parking Rules: No waiting and restricted parking laws are viciously regulated and strictly enforced.
Parking at Night: The Highway Code laws for parking a motorised vehicle on a road at night time.
Roadside Parking Laws: Find out how to avoid a ticket by parking your vehicle correctly.
Waiting and Parking Restrictions: Learn where you can and cannot park your vehicle.


Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) in the United Kingdom