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What is 'ParkSafe'?
The Council is responsible for enforcing on-street
parking, loading and waiting restrictions in the borough. This
is a process called Decriminalised Parking Enforcement or DPE,
although in the Borough we are operating under the more
understandable name of ParkSafe, because that's what it's all about
- making the streets safer for all users by the management and
enforcement of parking restrictions.
This enforcement used to be the job of Hampshire Police
(through its Traffic Wardens). Now, under the current arrangements
the Council employs a team of Parking Attendants who patrol the
streets and car parks. Enforcement of parking restrictions is
carried out by these Council employed Parking Attendants issuing
Penalty Charge Notices.
Do any other local areas have similar arrangements?
Many towns and cities nation-wide have adopted the powers,
including the whole of London. Locally, Winchester, Portsmouth,
Southampton, Eastleigh, Salisbury and Bournemouth are already
established as decriminalised parking enforcement areas.
What does 'decriminalised' mean?
The difference lies in the details of the different Acts of
Parliament.
In areas where traditional parking enforcement is still
carried out (by Police Traffic Wardens), if you
are issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice you have committed
a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1984 and if you do
not pay the Notice, you can end up in a Magistrates Court, which is
a criminal court.
In Havant, where decriminalised enforcement under the Road
Traffic Act 1991 is operating, if you receive a Penalty Charge
Notice from a Parking Attendant you have committed a civil, not
criminal, offence. Therefore, you do not have
recourse to the Magistrates Court system. Any unpaid debts will be
pursued through a streamlined County Court system culminating in
bailiff action.
Who will be Responsible for Paying a Parking Fine?
Legally the owner / keeper of the vehicle is responsible and
it is the owner / keeper who will be pursued in any further
action.