Motorists offered help to avoid parking fines

Lisburn man James Gray has said he will provide the updated codes to help motorists understand the new rules and, he says, hopefully help them to avoid receiving a parking fine of £90.

From Wednesday July 4, the maximum penalty for illegal parking in Northern Ireland rose from £60, with the charge being £45, rather than the previous £30, if the fee is paid within 14 days.

Mr Gray said; “Lisburn has been declared second only to Belfast to have the highest number of parking tickets (PCNs, Penalty Charge Notices) issued, with Antrim Street Car Park top of the list.

“I believe there are two reasons for motorists throughout Northern Ireland getting so many PCNs. Number one is ignorance of the Parking Restrictions and number two is the over-zealous attitude of the Parking Attendants (Traffic Wardens).”

He continued: “One example of not knowing the Parking Restrictions is in Antrim Street where from the Jewellers on the corner to Keys shop there are five parking spaces for Pay & Display, immediately after this there is a single continuous yellow line, with space for two cars, which means No Parking Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. Except for Blue Badge holders who are permitted to park for up to three hours. There are three other streets which have this situation. Before the new parking restrictions came into force in 2005 the single continuous yellow line must have been accompanied by a small sign stating the No Parking Restriction, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. This sign has been removed throughout the Ticket Zone. On questioning the DRD Road Service about this sign removal, I was told because the single continuous yellow line is in a Ticket Zone showing parking restrictions, there is no need for the original sign. How many motorists would know this?

“As regards to parking in off-street car parks, I believe that the most common fault with motorists is that they overstay their time, for whatever reasons. Plus the fact they are not fully aware of PCN Contravention Code No.24 - Not parked wholly within the markings of the bay or space.

“My advice to any motorist who is not sure is to buy the latest Highway Code and study the Waiting Restrictions Section or if you have access to a computer go to the website of the DRD, which is nidirect.gov.uk and go to Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Contravention Codes with a description site and you will see 36 code numbers and their descriptions, ie; No.1 Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours, No.1x Parked in a restricted street within 15m of a junction, No.22 Re-parked in the same parking place within one hour of leaving.

“For those who do not have access to a computer and wish to have a copy of the Contravention Codes, please send a SAE (size C6) to Concerned Motorist c/o Ulster Star, 12A Bow Street, Lisburn, BT28 1BN.

“If a motorist thinks that he/she was wrongly given a ticket, ie; something wrong with the ticket or the signs, or the road markings, a challenge should be made to the DRD.

“It is worth noting that 60% of all PCN’s which are challenged are cancelled. Roads Minister Danny Kennedy stated that this shows the appeal system is working. I believe that there were very many tickets wrongly issued.”

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