LISTEN: Parking enforcement officers set for Inverness
Two-weeks grace given before officers start penalising poor parking
Highland Council is warning motorists in Inverness and Fort William to "read the signs, stay off the lines, and avoid the fines" as the local authority's parking enforcement officers take charge, issuing penalty notices for illegally parked, waiting or loading vehicles.
The Council will also have powers to uplift vehicles.
The team of enforcement officers will initially be out and about looking for illegally parked vehicles and issuing warning notices.
After two weeks of warning notices they will begin issuing ÂŁ60 Penalty Charge Notices. However if you pay within a 14-day period the fee will be a reduced ÂŁ30.
Highland Council are offering online payment and an automated phoneline to handle charges.
Money raised will only be spent on maintaining the service and any surplus will only be used for traffic-related projects.
Police Scotland will still be responsible for reportable traffic offences on all roads, such as dangerous parking or obstruction.
Shane Manning is the Highland Council’s Principal Traffic Officer. He says the local authority hope to work with their more experienced colleagues in Edinburgh, particularly when recouping the fines:-
Although Inverness and Fort William are first in line - as parking in those areas has caused particular problems - Highland Council will evaluate all areas to see if enforcement is required. Although the authority has said that won't be there if there isn't the demand is there.
Should anyone have a query about a ticket, you can appeal to the Highland Council, but following that, there is a separate adjudicator for Scotland for a further appeals process.
For further information on parking in Highland visit here