Police and council leaders call for higher PCNs

Dorset PCC says fine increases will help deter illegal parking

Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner and the county’s council leaders are calling for tougher sanctions to tackle the increasing issue of illegal parking in Dorset through the summer months.

Currently, parking fines are limited to no more than £100, with local authorities setting the fine amount based on statutory guidance from the government.

The letter signed by PCC David Sidwick, Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset Council, and Philip Broadhead, leader Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council.

The leaders call for a commitment to increasing the limit to a base figure of at least £150, with a discount to £100. if paid early. They argue the increase would ensure that the fines are effective in acting as a deterrent to illegal parking.

The letter states that current fines, which vary from £50 to £70 which is halved if paid within 14 days, are simply too low to deter anti-social parking and keep road traffic flowing freely.

For the past two years the PCC and councils have asked for an increase the base level of fine to a more significant level, but no action appears to have been taken on this at all.

Their call for action comes as Dorset prepares for yet another busy summer period as residents and tourists head to beauty spots to make the most of pleasant weather.

The issue of problem parking was exacerbated during the pandemic and at the height of the first lockdown when the beaches were open but not the restaurants and supporting hospitality infrastructure. Dorset found itself facing anti-social parking on an extreme level, which caused severe congestion and interfered with the normal running of the seaside and tourist resorts.

Since then, every time there is a spell of pleasant weather Dorset’s resorts are overcrowded with anti-social parking which is simply not deterred by the low level of penalty charge that is currently in place.

The PCC and councils argue that, in practice, many people now decide to take the penalty of a fine for parking on a double yellow line because a £35 fine is not much more than the cost to park for the day in a regulated car park and the locations are often more convenient for the beach or beauty spot.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “Once again, we find ourselves entering a summer period when Dorset’s population triples and many visit our beaches and beauty spots. We’ve seen in past years that the current fines are not enough to deter the antisocial and illegal parking that increases congestion and, in some cases, poses a risk to people’s lives. I will continue to lobby government for tougher

Fines no longer deter antisocial drivers

Will Hurley of the IPC says increasing the cost of PCNs will restore their deterrent effect

The concerns expressed by the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and council leaders are shared by residents, public authorities and private landowners all over the country and are not restricted to tourist hotspots. The International Parking Community has been in regular contact with MPs to highlight the serious issues arising from the continuing increase in antisocial parking and how the government’s previous proposals would have simply incentivised such behaviour and exacerbated the problem.

We share the commissioner’s view that the level of deterrent must be at a level to deter such irresponsible and selfish behaviour in towns, cities and beauty spots all over the UK.

Clearly, the current deterrent is not having the desired effect and the consequences for such irresponsible and selfish behaviour.”

In June last year, illegal parking became such a problem across the water in Studland that it interfered with Firefighters’ ability to deal with the large heath fire and Dorset Police were called to help deal with the vehicles.

BCP Council leader Cllr Philip Broadhead said: “As one of the premier tourist destinations in the UK, each summer we welcome thousands of visitors to our beaches and open spaces. We’ve ample parking to accommodate them, but too many decide to ignore good practice and clog our up roads with illegal parking on double yellow lines.”

“Our seasonal response efforts over the last few years has made a real impact on this, but we remain hampered by the inadequacy of the government mandated limit on fines for these offences. A change in this legislation to reflect the flexibility that London has would make a critical difference to ensuring that we can enforce considerate parking.”

The issue affects many of Dorset’s tourist attractions particularly the numerous seaside resorts. Dorset Council leader Cllr Spencer Flower added: “I fully support this call for tougher parking fines. Illegal parking at Dorset beauty spots causes major risk to public safety, as well as inconvenience and frustration for local residents. I implore the Secretary of State to heed our call.” continuing rise in the number of repeat offenders is a very real cause for concern as they now account for a third of all parking charges issued each year.

Indeed, 8% of vehicles now account for 30% of all PCNs issued. This demonstrates that some drivers are prepared to accept the cost of a PCN for a convenient but illegal place to park their car as there is little difference to the cost of a day’s parking. That’s hardly a deterrent!

Local residents, businesses and other responsible road users will know all too well how disruptive, annoying and dangerous such irresponsible and inconsiderate behaviour can be. Such a cavalier approach to rules and regulations and a total disregard for others is simply not acceptable. Fairness, safety and responsibility must prevail.

Will Hurley is chief executive of the International Parking Community