Spread of civic enforcement has seen number of fines issued soar

COUNCILS across Scotland have been taking over parking enforcement from police traffic wardens over the last 12 years.

Edinburgh led the way in 1998, following the example of several councils in London, with the control of fines enabling local authorities to better implement parking restrictions.

The change was permitted by the Road Traffic Act 1991.

Under the scheme, parking offences are "decriminalised" and become civil penalties.

Fines are kept by councils rather than disappearing into Treasury coffers.

The revenue is used to fund parking enforcement, which usually involves councils contracting a firm to do the job.

However, the income cannot be used simply as an additional form of funding for other council activities.

Glasgow became the second Scottish council to decriminalise parking in 1999, followed by Perth & Kinross in 2002, Aberdeen the year after that, Dundee in 2004 and South Lanarkshire in 2005. Several other councils are actively considering following suit.

The Scottish Government said fines must be set at a level "to ensure maximum compliance with the parking restrictions".

Edinburgh raised 6.9 million in parking fines in the year to last March, with Glasgow totalling 5.5m, Aberdeen 1.3m, Dundee 812,000, South Lanarkshire 455,000 and Perth & Kinross 263,000. The figures in other areas where enforcement is left to traffic wardens are far lower.