Parking Enforcement Legislation Laid At Westminster

22 June 2005
PARKING ENFORCEMENT LEGISLATION LAID AT WESTMINSTER
New draft legislation to change the enforcement of parking and waiting restrictions on Northern Ireland roads was laid at Westminster.
Shaun Woodward, the Minister with responsibility for Regional Development, said: "The proposed legislation will change the status of parking infringements from criminal offences enforced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to civil contraventions enforced by the Department for Regional Development.
"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 and the draft legislation earlier this year 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 residentsТ parking schemes.ТТ
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The full title of the draft Order in Council is The Traffic Management Order (Northern Ireland) 2005.
Subject to Parliamentary approval, it is expected the Order will become law before the summer recess, which should allow the scheme to be fully operational by July 2006.
The draft Order can be obtained from the Stationery Office Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD. It is also available on the Roads Service website at www.roadsni.gov.uk.
Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies, Press Office, Department for Regional Development, Tel 028 9054 0007

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