30 October 2006
TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARKING ENFORCEMENT
Today sees responsibility for on street parking enforcement transferring from the Police Service of Northern Ireland to the Department for Regional Development.
Roads Minister David Cairns said: "Today, I am pleased to announce the commencement of on street enforcement by our new traffic attendants. I wish to remind drivers that the advice is 'park properly or pay the penalty'.
"This is a pro-car policy. So, for drivers who currently park properly this new system means that little will change. However those people who park illegally will be much less likely to get away with it. Our aim is to reduce illegal parking, reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety and make roads more accessible to all users.
"It is not our goal to 'catch people out'. We want you to park properly and free up blocked traffic lanes which are more valuable than the cost of a few parking tickets. We don't want to give out tickets but, if we have to, we will".
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- NCP has been appointed by the Department to manage its car parks and to enforce parking and waiting restrictions. They will be deploying around 110 traffic attendants to deal with enforcement.
- Further information on road signs and parking and waiting restrictions can be found by reading the Highway Code which can be downloaded using the link at www.roadsafetyni.gov.uk
- An information leaflet is available at http://www.roadsni.gov.uk/Parking/index.htm
- The new traffic attendants will only enforce parking and waiting restrictions. They will not have any responsibility for directing traffic as Traffic Wardens did in the past. Responsibility for traffic directions remains with the PSNI.
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