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1 March 2005

CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ORDER

Regional Development Minister, John Spellar, MP, today launched the consultation on the Proposal for a draft Traffic Management Order, which would change the enforcement of parking and waiting restrictions on public roads in Northern Ireland.

The draft legislation would change the status of parking infringements from criminal offences enforced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to civil contraventions that would be enforced by the Department for Regional Development.

This follows the decision taken by the PSNI to withdraw from the enforcement of on-street parking restrictions, to enable policing resources to be focused on areas of greater policing priority including road safety.

The Minister said: "The legislation will enable my Department to assume responsibility for enforcement of on street parking and waiting restrictions. The proposed changes will bring enforcement into line with arrangements in other parts of the United Kingdom. Consultation on the policy proposals in 2003 confirmed public support for the change.

"The new arrangements will have many benefits for road users throughout Northern Ireland, including a reduction in the number of illegally parked vehicles and related traffic congestion, an improvement in road safety and the opportunity to introduce residents’ parking schemes.

"To achieve these benefits, the Department will prepare clear guidelines to ensure that a fair and equitable scheme for the decriminalisation of parking enforcement (DPE) is put in place and that it is consistently applied, so that motorists can see the benefits and not feel unfairly penalised. We welcome views on the proposal for the draft legislation before the end of the consultation period on 10 May."

Copies of the draft Traffic Management (Northern Ireland) Order and an Explanatory Memorandum are available by contacting Roads Service on 028 9054 0655 and can be downloaded from www.roadsni.gov.uk/consultation/consultation.htm

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Department’s proposals for civil enforcement of traffic contraventions were outlined in August 2003 in ‘Parking Enforcement in Northern Ireland: A Consultation Document on Proposals to Decriminalise Parking Offences’. The consultation confirmed general support for the proposals.

  2. It is hoped that the draft legislation can be passed by this summer which should allow the scheme to be fully operational by mid-2006.

  3. In November 2004 the Department announced that the operation of parking enforcement would be through a specialist contractor.

  4. Consultation is continuing with all affected staff, including Department for Regional Development employees and Traffic Wardens, on the implications of implementing DPE in Northern Ireland.

  5. Copies of the consultation document can be obtained by contacting Roads Service by telephone on 028 9054 0655, by text phone on 028 90540022, by e-mailing a request to roads. dpe@drdni.gov.uk, or by writing to:
    6. Primary Legislation Unit
    Roads Service
    Clarence Court
    10-18 Adelaide Street
    Belfast
    BT2 8GB

  6. The document can also be obtained from the Roads Service Website at www.roadsni.gov.uk/consultation/consultation.htm

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