New Parking Restrictions

[crockers]

Sorry but that is not true. Councils regularly make mistakes when enforcing parking restrictions and rely on the ignorance of the general public to get away with it. I know this for a fact, having twice been give PCNs for offences which technically did not exist (and which were subsequently cancelled).

Did that include parking on a warden?

 

[ibrar]

hmmmmm,damaging side skirts or squashing a warden........i'll go for the latter

 

[glojo]

Sorry but that is not true. Councils regularly make mistakes when enforcing parking restrictions and rely on the ignorance of the general public to get away with it. I know this for a fact, having twice been give PCNs for offences which technically did not exist (and which were subsequently cancelled).

Brilliant politician's answer

Traffic Wardens
When they cause inconvenience to us they are a nuisance, but when roads are clogged and traffic cannot move we all demand action.

I think our authority has a terrible reputation for their traffic parking enforcement and unfortunately there will not be many folks coming to their defence.

Genuine Traffic Wardens that are capable of using discretion are a huge bonus but contracted out enforcement has not proved successful, or popular in the Torbay area. I think it fair to say that if they do not 'perform' their duties diligently then they will either be asked to improve or shown the door. Definitely no quota's though as that would be unethical.

I am pre traffic wardens and believe they have a thankless task, which is very much a no win situation.

Regards
John

 

[Colin_b]

How far can you park from the kerb, and how is it measured? Sounds a nightmare....

 

[robert.saunders]

How far can you park from the kerb, and how is it measured? Sounds a nightmare....

There is a specific measurement (can't recall what it is right now) but this is for double parking, rather than being 1cm over the limit

 

[momomo]

I guess the rules are fair and will help with moving traffic along but i do feel the fact they have to meet certain quotas is ridiculous and undermimes their job!

 

[robert.saunders]

What quotas???

 

[verytalldave]

................now go back to post #4 on this thread and continue reading........
And then stop when you get back to here.

 

[robert.saunders]

Aaah right, I thought it was someone posting with some actual knowledge rather than conjecture

 

[Parrot of Doom]

What quotas???

I don't recall the name (something like "The secret life of a traffic warden" but a couple of years back there was a programme about parking. An investigative journalist got a job as a warden, wearing secret cameras and microphone.

There was absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the parking scheme was set up to produce an 'estimated' annual income, an income which formed part of the local council's budgetary planning. Documents proving such were filmed.

The reporter was repeatedly chastised by his boss for not issuing enough tickets. The reporter could not issue any more tickets because he was following the strict guidelines laid out for him, whereas his erstwhile colleagues were ignoring the same guidelines and issuing tickets for everything.

The programme also showed a warden lifting the cover on a motorcycle (illegal), and making plans to steal it.

Its my belief that parking enforcement is done primarily to raise revenues - not to ensure the steady flow of traffic.

 

[ibrar]

quotas include, how many parking wardens you can park on and how many you can mow over before someone else does

 

[verytalldave]

...........Its my belief that parking enforcement is done primarily to raise revenues - not to ensure the steady flow of traffic.

This is certainly true in many back streets. To quote just one instance of many.....
Near me there is a cul-de-sac which was all yellow lined up to recently. Its now covered in pay and display areas. If it was the case where parking caused a problem, how can the council now justify pay and display? A parked car is a parked car after all. Having paid for the spot doesnt not change that fact.
I can FULLY understand having yellow lines and no parking on busy roads. And anywhere that parking could prove to be a hazard. But most side roads dont fall into either catagory. So why should parking be made illegal or by payment?
As you say, revenue collection and not traffic related at all.

 

[verytalldave]

I don't recall the name (something like "The secret life of a traffic warden" but a couple of years back there was a programme about parking. An investigative journalist got a job as a warden, wearing secret cameras and microphone.

There was absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the parking scheme was set up to produce an 'estimated' annual income, an income which formed part of the local council's budgetary planning. Documents proving such were filmed.

The reporter was repeatedly chastised by his boss for not issuing enough tickets. The reporter could not issue any more tickets because he was following the strict guidelines laid out for him, whereas his erstwhile colleagues were ignoring the same guidelines and issuing tickets for everything.

The programme also showed a warden lifting the cover on a motorcycle (illegal), and making plans to steal it.

Its my belief that parking enforcement is done primarily to raise revenues - not to ensure the steady flow of traffic.

I'm glad someone else remembers that program and it wasnt a figment of my imagination.
I dont know how typical that was of councils across the UK, but it did demonstrate that this went on in at least some areas.
Thank you for jogging my memory.............

 

[Alfie]

Whatever happened to our esteemed colleague who had a parking ticket issued for the wrong year?

 

[280gee]

I don't recall the name (something like "The secret life of a traffic warden" but a couple of years back there was a programme about parking. An investigative journalist got a job as a warden, wearing secret cameras and microphone.

There was absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the parking scheme was set up to produce an 'estimated' annual income, an income which formed part of the local council's budgetary planning. Documents proving such were filmed.

The reporter was repeatedly chastised by his boss for not issuing enough tickets. The reporter could not issue any more tickets because he was following the strict guidelines laid out for him, whereas his erstwhile colleagues were ignoring the same guidelines and issuing tickets for everything.

The programme also showed a warden lifting the cover on a motorcycle (illegal), and making plans to steal it.

Its my belief that parking enforcement is done primarily to raise revenues - not to ensure the steady flow of traffic.

I recall the program and whilst it was no surprise (having been a victim) it did serve to underline that few people really question the legitimacy of parking charges in the first place.

When in human history has turning things to the private sector ever made things more affordable, fairer, or more effective? A genuine question..

"Parking regulation" enforcement is only one small example of profit at the expense of the vehicle user.

Some people may be highly motivated and genuinely do a good job in 'keeping the traffic flowing' but in my experience most nowadays do not!
There is no evidence that parking fines levied on bays in the local streets here do anything at all to ease traffic congestion.

 

[robert.saunders]

Oh no, I'm in the local rag again

But, the editorial comment of the paper itself seem happy enough, go figure

 

[280gee]

From here on down who could fault you?

Mr Saunders said: "Issuing a ticket is a last resort because the priority of a parking attendant is to keep the traffic flowing. But where there are restrictions, such as double yellow lines, they will be robustly enforced."

etc.


on reflection I prefer traffic warden.

 

[hawk20]

When in human history has turning things to the private sector ever made things more affordable, fairer, or more effective? A genuine question..

.

Think telephones, think airlines as just a couple of examples. When phones were nationalised over 90% of call boxes did not work. Within a few years of de-nationalising over 90% did work.

 

[robert.saunders]

From here on down who could fault you?

Mr Saunders said: "Issuing a ticket is a last resort because the priority of a parking attendant is to keep the traffic flowing. But where there are restrictions, such as double yellow lines, they will be robustly enforced."

etc.


on reflection I prefer traffic warden.

I prefer me. And yes, I am amazing. And no, I don't believe anything I read in the press

 

[glojo]

Not sure what documentary you saw but Torbay featured heavily in one of these programs as our local authority decided to pay NCP to enforce the parking regulations.

Any documentary is produced to attract high audience figures and will always be biased to one side or another, it is very seldom indeed that we see a constructive documentary that offers both sides of any debate and the usual agenda is to convince us the journalist is right and all facts are biased to-wards their own beliefs.

I believe Torbay paid NCP a fixed fee and then receive a percentage of any revenue above an agreed figure? I'm not 100% sure about this last bit and would be interested to hear what Robert has to say. The reality is the council are loosing money, the contract was ill thought out and NCP are the only winners.

The under cover journalist tried to convince the gullible audience that wardens have quota's that they must fulfil. That is pure flannel and at no time was any documentary proof, or any verbal recording submitted that backed up this allegation. Documentaries are great entertainment and we will always believe what we want to hear. The reality is that wardens are employed to enforce the no parking legislation, they are given areas to patrol where they are expected to write out tickets; if they do not perform their duties diligently then their ability\suitability is assessed and further training might be offered, or suitable training given. It is certainly not a pleasant job, and definitely not one I would choose, but........ If they were not out there writing tickets I am certain our town would very quickly come to a grinding standstill.

I'm not on anyone's side over this issue but relying on a prime time documentary to be the sole source of factual information might not be a fair way of reaching a decision of any subject.

regards
John