New regulations (See footnote 1), which cover on street and off street parking, aim to make parking fairer and more transparent and provide motorists with a consistent service across the country. Under the new regulations this activity will become known as Civil Parking Enforcement and Parking Attendants will become known as Civil Enforcement Officers.

You can now pay / appeal your Penalty Charge Notice online.

New Tariffs for Penalty Charges

There will be two levels of Penalty Charges depending on the severity of the parking offence;

• The higher band in Kent will be £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days).
• The lower band in Kent will be £50 (reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days).

With half of the Penalty Charge Notices currently issued falling into the new, lower band, many people in Swale who do not adhere to parking regulations will actually be paying less in the future.

Preparations include a full review of local parking orders, road markings and traffic signs to ensure they comply with the new regulations; changes are also required to IT systems, uniforms, stationery and staff training.

Higher Band Penalty Charge Notices

• Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours;
• Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force;
• Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place without clearly displaying either a permit or voucher or pay and display ticket issued for that place;
• Parked in an electric vehicles' charging place during restricted hours without charging;
• Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit;
• Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited;
• Parked in a loading gap marked by a yellow line;
• Parked in a suspended bay/space or part of bay/space;
• Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicle;
• Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading;
• Parked in a designated disabled person's parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled person's badge;
• Parked in a parking place designated for police vehicles;
• Stopped on a restricted bus stop/stand;
• Stopped in a restricted area outside a school;
• Parked wholly or partly on a cycle track;
• Parked in contravention of a commercial vehicle waiting restriction;
• Parked in contravention of a coach ban;
• A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway, verge or land between two carriageways;
• Parked with one or more wheels on any part of an urban road other than a carriageway (footway parking);
• Stopped on a pedestrian crossing and/or crossing area marked by zig-zags;
• Parked in a loading area during restricted hours without reasonable excuse;
• Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited;
• Parked in a restricted area in a car park;
• Parked in a permit bay without clearly displaying a valid permit;
• Parked in a disabled person's parking space without clearly displaying a valid disabled person's badge;
• Vehicle parked exceeds maximum weight and/or height and/or length permitted in the area;
• Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle;

Lower Band Penalty Charge Notices

• Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket;
• Parked after the expiry of paid for time;
• Parked in a meter bay when penalty time is indicated;
• Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time;
• Parked at an out-of-order meter during controlled hours;
• Parked displaying multiple pay and display tickets where prohibited;
• Parked with engine running where prohibited;
• Parked without clearly displaying two valid pay and display tickets when required;
• Parked without payment of the parking charge;
• Parked in a resident' parking space without clearly displaying a valid residents parking permit;
• Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place displaying an invalid permit, an invalid voucher or an invalid pay and display ticket;
• Re-parked in the same parking place within one hour of leaving;
• Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space;
• Parked for longer than permitted;
• Parked in a disc parking place without clearly displaying a valid disc;
• Parked in a disc parking place for longer than permitted;
• Parked without payment of the parking charge;
• Parked for longer than the maximum period permitted;
• Parked after the expiry of paid for time;
• Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket;
• Parked with additional payment made to extend the stay beyond time first purchased;
• Parked beyond the bay markings;
• Re-parked within one hour of leaving a bay or space in a car park;
• Parked in car park when closed;
• Parked in a pay and display car park without clearly displaying two valid pay and display tickets when required;
• Parked in a parking place for a purpose other than the designated purpose for the parking place;
• Parked with engine running where prohibited;

Tips on how to avoid getting a penalty charge notice

• When purchasing a ticket on street or in a car park always make sure your 'buy' enough time to get the shopping done or have that meeting and get back to the car;
• Make sure you display your parking ticket the correct side up;
• Don't park on double yellow lines unless you are loading or unloading. Civil Enforcement Officers will observe vehicles to ensure that loading or unloading is evident;
• Do not park on single yellow lines during restricted hours unless you are loading or unloading. There should be a sign nearby which tells you when the restriction is in force;
• Park wholly within a marked bay. Taking up more than one bay is frustrating for other drivers trying to find a space and will result in receiving a penalty charge;
• Keep some loose change to purchase a pay and display ticket. Don't risk going for change and leaving your car in a pay and display area without displaying a valid ticket;
• Do not park in bays designated for other users such as bus stops, taxi ranks, disabled bays, etc;
• If you're a blue badge holder, please ensure that your badge is displayed photograph down so that the expiry date can easily be seen, and set the clock at your arrival time. Disabled drivers should also not park in areas designated for other users.

Footnotes

1 - On 31 March 2008 changes to the way parking regulations are enforced are on the way as the Government's Civil Parking Enforcement Regulations come into effect. The new regulations, which form Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 are the most significant change to parking enforcement in England and Wales for many years.