Civil Parking Enforcement

What does Civil Parking Enforcement mean?

Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) means that the responsibility for enforcing the majority of on-street parking restrictions is now the responsibility of the local authority rather than the police.

CPE started in Torfaen on Monday 01 July 2019 in regards to on-street parking restrictions, as well as some of the council’s off-street car parks in Pontypool.

Parking rules

There are no changes to parking regulations as set out in the Highway Code since the council took over Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) on 1 July.

If you have previously parked somewhere outside the parking regulations, and continue to park there, you may receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) from one of our Civil Parking and Environmental Enforcement Officers.

Find out about parking provision in Torfaen here.

Enforcement Officers

Our Joint Civil Parking and Environmental Enforcement Officers can enforce environmental offences and parking related restrictions if a vehicle is parked unlawfully.

This includes:

• contravening parking restrictions e.g. double or single yellow lines
• overstaying time limits on parking bays (on street and some off-street carparks)
• parking across drop kerbs
• parking more than 50cm from the edge of the kerb

Other traffic offences will continue to be enforced by Gwent Police, including moving traffic offences, dangerous and obstructive parking etc.

The council does not intend to introduce vehicle clamping or removal at this stage.

Penalty Charge Notices (PCN’s)

The fine for any CPE offences will be either £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days, or £50 for lesser parking offences, again reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days, and a potential 50% increase if payment is not made payable within 28 days.

Legislation requires that money from PCNs is used to cover the cost of operating the enforcement service, with any surplus invested into highway/traffic related projects as required by the legislation.

The Civil Parking and Environmental Enforcement Officers will not have targets to issue a set number of PCNs.

Appeals process

If you wish to challenge a PCN, follow the instructions on the reverse of the notice and submit a written challenge within 14 days of issue.

If your challenge is rejected, the discounted rate will be restarted for a further 14 days.

Please do not ignore a PCN as the charge will increase if it’s not paid or if a challenge is not made.

Any further delay may lead to action by enforcement agents (bailiffs), with their costs added to the civil debt.

Further information is available on the Civil Parking Enforcement FAQs page

Blue Badge holders

CPE does not change the rules for parking for blue badge holders.

Blue badge holders can still receive a PCN for certain parking contraventions, please refer to the guidance booklet issued with your blue badge for details.

Find out more about the Blue Badge Scheme here.

Last Modified: 06/06/2024 Back to top