No drive-off dodge for parking tickets

• New rules mean parking tickets through the post
• Other powers for councils will also be introduced
• New measures in force this autumn

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New parking enforcement laws due this autumn mean that motorists will no longer be able to dodge parking tickets by driving off.

Currently, motorists can avoid paying fines if they drive off before attendants or wardens fix the penalty notice to their car.

Although a recent High Court ruling against Transport for London backs this up, new rules being introduced under the Traffic Management Act this autumn will allow fines to be sent to motorists through the post.

Attendants or wardens will have to provide clear proof that an offence was committed, but many already use digital cameras to justify the tickets they issue.

More traffic-flow improvements
The Traffic Management Act contains a range of other measures designed to improve traffic flow. Local authorities will be given more powers to fine motorists for other offences, such as ignoring box junction markings or making illegal left- or right-hand turns.

They will also have greater powers to coordinate roadworks, and impose bigger fines on companies that dig up roads and overrun on works.

A pilot scheme in Camden where motorists were fined based on footage from CCTV cameras could also spread nationwide by 2008.

• Civil enforcement of parking offences by attendants rather than wardens has been roundly criticised by influential MPs on the transport select committee.

They said parking enforcement is in chaos, and that councils must do more to ensure that tickets are issued to ensure smoother traffic flow, not simply to raise revenue for local authority coffers.