Our approach to parking enforcement

Important changes to on-street parking

On 1 April, all on-street parking, including parking charges and enforcement of parking restrictions, together with residents’ on-street parking areas, transferred from us to Hampshire County Council. 

For details, see our Important parking and traffic management changes page.

Our parking enforcement aims

• To reduce congestion and pollution
• To reduce danger to pedestrians by maintaining good lines of sight
• To reduce damage to verges and street furniture
• To make sure there is good access for public transport, deliveries and emergency services
• To make sure residents are not disadvantaged by living close to town centres and public facilities

With this in mind, our overall aim is to keep the streets clear of unlawful parking, encourage the most appropriate use of our parking facilities, and to maintain orderly parking in our car parks.

Our parking enforcement rules

Our parking team regularly patrols Aldershot and Farnborough and responds to public complaints and concerns about parking. We have a number of rules that are intended to make sure everyone is treated fairly:

• If the driver is in the vehicle that is breaking parking restrictions, we will always ask the driver to move the vehicle immediately. If the driver declines or is abusive, we will then issue a parking fine
• If a vehicle is parked unlawfully, we will not 'go looking' for a driver even if there is a note in the windscreen. If a vehicle is unattended and the driver does not return within the observation period, we will give a parking fine
• We do not 'window tap' or phone to alert traders or residents that we are in an area
• Our officers cannot withdraw or cancel a parking fine. However, they will be happy to record any information you give them that might help if you choose to appeal
• Our officers will not accept payment for a parking fine
• If we enforce in a road or car park, we will issue a parking fine to every vehicle that is breaking parking restrictions
• When considering an appeal, we ignore all references to profession or social status, ethnic origin, relationship with officers, councillors or others in a position of influence, unless this has a direct bearing on the circumstances that led to the parking fine

Our parking team is not set targets or given incentives for issuing parking fines.

How we issue parking fines

It usually takes us about five minutes to observe and check a vehicle, take notes and photos and issue the parking fine.

For all parking fines, we record the vehicle registration number, the vehicle make and colour, its location and the time and date it was found to be breaking a parking restriction. Each parking fine has a unique number.

For fines involving tickets and permits we record the ticket, badge or permit details. For fines involving time limits we record valve positions to show the vehicle has not moved.

We also record additional notes, such as conversations with drivers, observations about the nearest signs and the condition of the lines. Wherever possible, we take photographs of the vehicle, its parking position, and the windscreen and windows to show any tickets, badges or permits and to prove that the parking fine has been attached to the vehicle.

You can find more information about our approach to parking enforcement in our Policy guidance for the enforcement of penalty charge notices.

Fair collection and debt recovery

We have written a document to help explain how we are consistent when collecting the debts that are owed to us.

Our Fair collection and debt recovery policy includes information about collections for parking fines.