Fareham Parking Enforcement

Your Questions Answered

What is Fareham Parking Enforcement?
What will the differences be?
Does this mean there are more yellow lines going in?
Are you putting up parking charges to pay for the extra staff?
If I receive a Penalty Charge Notice, what will the process be?
Isn’t this just an additional charge on residents?
Does this mean that the Council will review its position on residents’ parking schemes?
Can I park outside a school to pick up my children after lessons?
Is it possible to park on verges to keep out of the way of passing traffic?

What is Fareham Parking Enforcement?

Since 02 April 2007 Fareham Borough Council have been responsible for enforcing traffic regulations such as limited waiting, double or single yellow lines, no stopping at bus stops. Previously the responsibility for enforcing these lay with the police and was carried out by traffic wardens.

Other regulations will remain under the jurisdiction of the police – such as moving traffic offences – one way streets, turning bans, speeding restrictions on driving, endorsable offences, parking on zigzag lines, obstruction of highways, accesses, footways.

The Fareham Parking Enforcement Service covers the management and enforcement of both on and off street parking throughout the Borough. The service is delivered in line with the Parking Enforcement Policy (261 Kb) that sets out the main principles for enforcement associated with the delivery of this service.

What does the Parking Service consist of?

There are currently eleven Civil Enforcement Officers in the team (including one Supervisor and three Team Leaders). Civil Enforcement Officers work a shift system as enforcement takes place seven days a week; this does include evening and Bank Holiday patrols.

The members of this team will be able to issue a Penalty Charge Notice to any vehicle which contravenes a restriction.

If I receive a Penalty Charge Notice, what will the process be?

CEO's will only issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if a vehicle has contravened the regulations in place. These will be served and placed on the front windscreen of the vehicle, handed to the driver or sent through the post, for more details please see the Traffic Management Act 2004 page.

Penalty Charge Notices will be either £70 or £50 depending on the level of contravention (which would be indicated on the Notice) and must be paid within 28 days. A 50% discount will be granted if paid within 14 days.

There are several payment options, by cheque, online, on the automated telephone service, or personally at the Cash Office at the Civic Offices and these are outlined on the rear of the Penalty Charge Notice.

There is obviously a right to appeal and this must be documentary in the form of a letter or via e-mail to parkingservices@fareham.gov.uk. This should include PCN number, full name and address and any supporting documents, for example, invoice, delivery note or copy of Blue Badge showing the serial number and expiry date. In most cases the discount period will be reset if an appeal is made within 14 days of the date of issue of the PCN.

Unresolved disputes are settled through the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. This is an independent tribunal body based in Manchester.

It is important to note a Penalty Charge is a civil debt and non-payment will be pursued by Fareham Borough Council through the County Court system. Non-payment could ultimately lead to bailiff action.

For more information on how to Appeal please see the following links: - www.patrol-uk.info (this is an external hyperlink) or www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk (this is an external hyperlink).

Does this mean that the Council will review its position on residents’ parking schemes?

Yes, but not immediately. The Council is preparing a Fareham Town Centre Parking Strategy, which will consider the opportunities for introducing residents’ parking schemes in the vicinity of the town centre, where there is a high incidence of commuter or shopper parking. Any subsequent schemes that are introduced would need to be self-financing, and be informed by the initial period of operating the new enforcement regime.

Can I park outside a school to pick up my children after lessons?

Parking outside schools should be discouraged for the safety of the children. Zig zag markings at the entrance to some schools mean drivers must not stop even to drop off or pick up. The Police will enforce this regulation and it is an endorsable offence.

In other locations there are waiting restrictions for the benefit of safety and traffic movement. Parking on yellow lines will be enforced by the Council. Please always refer to the signage.