Call to scrap parking panel

Call to scrap parking panel
Sunderland Echo
15th September 2005

A PARKING fines appeal panel should be disbanded, says a Sunderland campaigner, after it was revealed it is funded by cash from tickets dished out to motorists.

Political crusader Neil Herron says the body responsible for settling disputes between drivers and councils cannot be truly independent because it receives the money collected from parking fines.

The National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS) was set up in 1999 to replace the courts and independently adjudicate on parking ticket appeals.

But it has been revealed that the NPAS receives 60p from every parking ticket issued by councils.

Mr Herron says the service is completely funded by cash from tickets issued by local authorities – and is therefore wholly dependent on them.

He says the service can't claim to be independent or impartial.

Sunderland was one of about 80 local authorities which signed up to the "decriminalised" scheme, which was set up so motorists could appeal to a panel rather then face going to court.

Mr Herron said: "NPAS is neither independent nor a court of law, but some members of the public believe this is the case. I don't think motorists can feel as though they can be treated in a fair and impartial manner."

He has called for an end to the system, which he claims offers "no independence, no scrutiny and no recourse for motorists".

He said the situation was further complicated in Sunderland because 700 tickets had been issued unlawfully by the council since 2003 to people parking on a taxi rank.Sunderland City Council is refunding £21,000 in parking fines.

Mr Herron is asking if these motorists will lose their 60p given to NPAS from these illegal tickets.

An NPAS spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that the Road Traffic Act 1991 required councils to fund parking adjudication at a cost of 60p per fine.

But she said this lifted the burden from the taxpayer and the people on the tribunals remained impartial.

She said: "Appeals are decided by adjudicators who are lawyers, appointed through the normal judicial appointment process. Every adjudicator considers and decides each case on its own merits."

She said 67 percent of appeals were successful.

Yesterday the council declined to comment, saying further arrangements were decided by the Government.