Rethink needed in parking fine debate

Viewpoint

Parking fines are an ongoing problem for traders and shoppers

May 20 2022 11:00 AM

The most diplomatic way of referring to traffic wardens is a “necessary evil”.

There’s no doubt other road users can find it annoying when a car parks illegally and disrupts the flow of traffic, but on the other hand, there are certain roads, especially in Belfast city centre, that have become easy pickings for the ticketing brigade.

But all too often it seems that common sense is flying out the car window.

Belfast road tops table for parking fines with 2,508 in two years as traffic wardens accused of being ‘over-zealous’

The role of a traffic warden should be in maintaining the flow of traffic around towns and cities.

There is also a perception that traffic wardens are seen as money-making machines.

Quick on the draw to slap tickets onto vehicles and offering little leeway, there are certain roads which are targeted more than others as they know penalty charges will be flying into the system.

Businesses obviously don’t want to lose custom, but when their own vans are receiving fines there’s an obvious reason why some might call the policing of street parking “over-zealous”.

On the other hand, the message should be getting through to some road users that if they do park illegally, they should expect a fine.

Either way, there are no winners, and unless common sense can be applied on both sides of the argument, areas like the Lisburn Road (2,508 penalty charges in the last two years), Stranmillis Road (1,003) and Adelaide Street (751) will continue to be a battle ground between the wardens and drivers.

Traders believe traffic wardens could ask in a shop if a driver would like to move their vehicle before a ticket is issued, but it shouldn’t be the job of the traffic warden to run from premises to premises in order to find the vehicle’s driver.

But perhaps a five-minute warning could be a compromise?

A pending penalty ticket on the window, and should the driver quickly return, they’ll know they’ve only just escaped a penalty and might not be in such a rush to park in the same spot again?

One thing motorists should be mindful of, though, is if the number of traffic wardens does eventually get back up to full strength.

In March, the Belfast Telegraph revealed that the city centre is facing a shortage of attendants, with 20 full-time vacancies to be filled.

And as long as people can’t be trusted to park responsibly, traffic wardens will play a vital role in the smooth running of our towns and cities — but a little more signage on where and when parking is permitted wouldn’t go amiss.

Rethink needed in parking fine debate

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