Parking: Glossary of Terms

Adjudication

The process by which, at a personal, telephone or postal hearing an Adjudicator representing the Traffic Penalty Tribunal decides the result of the appeal for either the motorist or the council.

Appeal

The process of referring a dispute concerning a Penalty Charge Notice to an independent Adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Certified Bailiff

A bailiff authorised in accordance with S78 (6) of the RTA 1991 to recover parking debt.

Challenge

An informal appeal to a council by a motorist against the issue of a Penalty Charge Notice.

Charge Certificate

A notice issued to motorists who have received a Penalty Charge Notice and subsequent Notice to Owner but have not paid in the statutory time limits.

Civil Enforcement Authority

A council that is empowered to operate the civil enforcement of parking regulations.

Contraventions

A failure by a motorist to comply with parking regulations that have been decriminalised.

Debt Registration

The process of recording a parking debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre at the County Court.

Decriminalisation

Under the Road Traffic Act 1991, the Secretary of State for Transport made Special Parking Orders, allowing a council to enforce contraventions of parking regulations within a designated Special Parking Area. Such contraventions are not criminal offences as they are enforced through civil procedures.

DVLA

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, located at Swansea.

Enforcement

To make sure that laws and regulations are complied with.

Fixed Penalty Notice

Notices that are issued by police officers or police traffic wardens to motorists who commit parking offences that are governed by criminal law.

Formal Representations

The formal arguments made by a motorist who challenges a penalty charge after they have received a Notice to Owner following the issue of a PCN.

Notice of Appeal

A form that is sent to the motorist, from the Enforcement Authority with a Notice of Rejection of Representations on which motorists can make a formal appeal to an independent Adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal against a penalty charge.

Notice of Rejection of Representations

A letter sent by the Enforcement Authority to a motorist following their formal representations against a Notice to Owner in regards to parking, denoting that the representations have been rejected.

Notice to Owner

A statutory notice served by the Enforcement Authority to the person believed to be the vehicle's registered keeper that was issued with the Penalty Charge Notice in regards to the parking contravention.                                            

Off Street Parking

An area of privately owned land used for the parking of vehicles. The land is subject to a Traffic Regulation Order issued by the Enforcement Authority.

On Street Parking

An area of privately owned land (usually adjacent to a street) used for the parking of vehicles. The land is subject to a Traffic Regulation Order issued by the Highway Authority.

Penalty Charge Notice

A notice issued to the vehicle's registered keeper by the Enforcement Authority believed to be contravening the council's Traffic Regulation Order.

Registered Keeper

The person or organisation recorded at the DVLA as being the vehicle keeper.

Special Parking Area

An area approved by the Secretary of State for Transport within which the enforcement of most parking controls has been decriminalised and where enforcement may therefore be undertaken by the council.

Traffic Enforcement Centre

Located in Northampton, this is where unpaid penalty charges are registered as debts at the County Court.

Traffic Management Act 2004

Act of Parliament which repealed the Road Traffic Act 1991, and replaced it with new regulations and laws giving civil enforcement authority councils some additional powers to control parking.

Traffic Regulation Order

An official order created by the council detailing the nature of parking controls within the council's area.

Vehicle Excise Disk

A vehicle's tax disk.