Parking offenders put in the frame

02-MAR-09

 

People abusing the parking restrictions in North Tyneside can now see their offending vehicle in full colour on North Tyneside Council's website.

For photographs of the vehicle are being published - visible only to the person receiving the penalty notice - as back up evidence

When North Tyneside Council took over responsibility for parking enforcement from Northumbria Police in June 2007, it equipped its Parking Enforcement Officers with digital cameras to record any contraventions they encounter.

These provide supplementary evidence of the offence having taken place and show that a Penalty Charge Notice has been served on the vehicle.

But now the photographs are being uploaded onto a special area of the Council's website which can be accessed by inserting information which can be found on the Penalty Charge Notice.

The website also contains a link to take them to another part of the website where they will be able to pay their fine online.

Councillor Frank Lott, Cabinet member responsible for Transport, says: "This is not an exercise in 'naming and shaming' - quite the reverse, in fact."

"The only person who will see these photographs will be the person who committed the offence, as they will have to enter the registration number of their vehicle and the serial number of the Penalty Charge Notice to see them.

"What this new system will do, however, will make the payment of a Penalty Charge Notice quick and convenient. You won't have to trail down to the Customer Service Offices or send your payment through the post - If you have a debit or credit card, all you have to do is click on the link and follow the simple instructions."

North Tyneside Council is a Decriminalised Parking Authority and has been undertaking civil enforcement of parking/ waiting restrictions since June 2007.

Its Civil Enforcement Officers (Parking) can issue two levels of penalty charge.

- Higher Level £70 Penalty Charge for parking in a place where it is always prohibited such as on No Waiting At Any Time and No Loading restrictions or parking in a disabled bay without displaying a valid badge.

- Lower Level £50 Penalty Charge for less serious contraventions such as overstaying in a parking place or parking outside a marked bay.

Both Higher and Lower Level Penalty Charges will be reduced by 50 percent for payments made within 14 days.

Information for Editors:

The site is accessed from the website at www.northtyneside.gov.uk

Issued by: Jeanette Hedley