Drivers to face £100 fine when new parking law is introduced next month

13 November 2023 , 07:08

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A new parking ban will be introduced in Scotland from December 11 (Image: Getty Images)

Drivers could face a £100 fine for parking on the pavement in some areas of the UK from next month.

Motorists in some areas of Scotland will not be able to park their cars on the pavement from December 11 2023. Those who do will be given either a Penalty Notice of £100 or their vehicle will be removed.

It's important to note that from this date, councils in Scotland will be able to enforce the new parking rules. This means that not all 32 councils will be enforcing the new rules from today - so far the Highland Council has confirmed that it will be enforcing the new rules.

According to the Scottish Government's legislation, if the driver pays the fine within 14 days - beginning with the date the notice was given - motorists will only need to pay £50. However, those who fail to pay before the issuing of the Charge Certificate could also face an increase in their penalty by as much as 50%.

There are three "key changes" in relation to parking under the new rules - these include:

Pet owners driving with dogs face £5,000 fine if they break these rules

• A ban on pavement parking
• A ban on double-parking (more than 50cm from the edge of a carriageway)
• A ban on parking at dropped kerbs installed for pedestrian or cycle usage

According to the Highland Council's website, in early 2024, there will be a "grace period" where warning notices will be issued for the action. Once the grace period has ended drivers will be given the fines.

Scotland originally announced its intention to ban pavement parking and dropped kerbs in 2019, but this became delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The former Transport Secretary Michael Matheson, later announced the ban would not be enforced before this year.

The Scottish Government says the ban sets out to tackle "inconsiderate and obstructive" parking and aims to make pavements and roads more accessible for everybody.

Parking on pavements is already punishable if it causes an obstruction, and is included in the Highway Code. In particular, a parking ban is already in place across 32 London boroughs and the city under the Greater London (General Purposes) Act 1974.

If someone is caught parking on the pavement, they can be charged with “unnecessary obstruction of any part of the highway” with drivers receiving a £70 fine.

There are different rules for different parts of the country, and local authorities can restrict pavement parking on individual streets, or by area, by making a traffic regulation order (TRO).

Ruby Flanagan