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What does Decriminalised Parking Enforcement mean?

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 Authority.

Currently when a motorist commits a parking offence on the street, such as parking on double yellow lines, a Police Officer or Police Community Support Officer issues a Fixed Penalty Notice.

From 21 January 2008 Cheshire County Council will take over responsibility for enforcing parking, loading and waiting restrictions in Crewe & Nantwich from Cheshire Police. Cheshire County Council and Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council have agreed that the Borough Council will undertake enforcement as agents to the County Council using their Parking Attendants to enforce on-street parking as well as in the Borough's car parks. 

From this date illegal parking on the street will no longer be classed as criminal offences but become civil contraventions. The Parking Attendants will issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to any vehicle parking illegally.

As a first phase, decriminalised parking enforcement is being introduced in the Crewe & Nantwich Borough area, with the City of Chester, Ellesmere Port & Neston and Macclesfield Borough areas following on later in 2008.