The 1991 Road Traffic Act permits highway authorities to apply to the Secretary of State to become a Special Parking Area (SPA). Once an SPA application is approved, the power to enforce parking, loading and waiting restrictions, passes from the police to the local council. Parking contraventions are no longer classified as a criminal offence.

The enforcement can only be carried out where there are existing parking controls, shown by formal signs, marked bays and/or yellow lines. Obstruction and moving traffic offences will remain a police issue.

Why have Decriminalised Parking Enforcement?

Traffic congestion is a growing problem throughout the county, particularly in town centres. Just one illegally parked car can quickly cause traffic jams and tailbacks.

Dorset Police can only give limited attention to parking enforcement; their primary concern being crime and criminal investigations. All income from parking fines currently passes to central government, rather than back to the police. Under DPE, district and borough councils will retain income from fines, which will be used to fund enforcement and to help local transport initiatives.

As local authorities are responsible for the implementation of parking orders, it is more appropriate for them to take charge of all aspects of parking, including enforcement.

Who 'polices' this?

The DPE system is enforced by parking attendants, employed by the local councils, who have taken over work previously undertaken by traffic wardens working for Dorset Police.

DPE is now in place throughout Dorset. Dorset County Council is responsible for the whole of Dorset excluding the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole. The boroughs of Christchurch and Weymouth & Portland operate DPE within their respective areas on behalf of Dorset County Council.

The parking attendants have taken on a 'customer care' role, presenting a friendly face to visitors and local alike. This includes providing directions / information and keeping an eye on council issues such as potholes and broken paving slabs. They are not responsible for any repair work but will pass on information to the relevant council department.

Where will I be able to park?

The 'pay and display' car parks operated by the local councils will continue operating as they do at present.

Single and doubt yellow lines, residents' parking areas and limited waiting areas on-street are patrolled more effectively than in the past.

If you park legally there will be no change. If you park illegally, you are more likely to receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) as the level of enforcement has been increased.

Penalty Charge Notices

A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued where a parking contravention has been committed. The parking attendants will look out for motorists who ignore parking restrictions such as:

• Parking on double or single yellow lines
• Parking in designated residents' parking areas without a permit
• Parking in limited waiting areas for longer than specified
• Parking outside of a marked bay in limited waiting areas
• Parking in disabled bays without a disabled badge
• Parking on a taxi rank or bus stop
• Failing to 'pay and display' in an off-street car park
• Parking outside of a marked bay in an off-street car park

If you receive a PCN do not ignore it, it will not go away!

Residents' Parking Schemes

Residents' parking schemes have been introduced in areas where this is increasing competition for on-street parking spaces and where local residents have limited off-street parking facilities of their own. DPE will provide increased enforcement and action against non-permit holders, reducing abuse of residents' parking areas, and resulting in increased availability spaces for residents.

Please note, motorists displaying a Disabled Person's Badge (Blue Badge Scheme) will only be allowed a maximum of three hours waiting in these spaces.

How will disabled badge holders be affected?

Motorists displaying a disabled person's parking card will notice no changes. On-street parking concessions that existed previously under the Blue Badge Scheme will continue. The only change is that on-street parking enforcement is now undertaken by parking attendants employed by local councils rather than by traffic wardens employed by Dorset Police.

The increased level of enforcement will reduce abuse of existing disabled bays. There will also be increased and better enforcement of disabled bays within the off-street car parks.

Remember, in order to receive the concession, a parking disc showing the arrival time must be displayed clearly alongside the Disabled Person's Parking Card. Failure to do so could result in the issue of a PCN for failing to correctly display the Disabled Person's Parking Card.

Visitors from Scotland should obtain a parking disc before travelling to England or Wales in order to receive the concession.