The powers of London boroughs to tackle motorists flouting parking and traffic regulations or blocking footways have been strengthened.
The London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2008 gained Royal Assent this week, giving boroughs and TfL the powers to clamp or remove persistent evaders’ vehicles.
The law will affect those who have at least three penalty charge notices.
But London Councils and TfL stressed that many had far more unpaid PCNs. TfL’s top 20 persistent evaders had, in total, 1,712 unpaid parking and traffic fines, with the worst offender alone issued with 174.
The new law also expands the scope of the current London ban on parking on the footway. Former legislation required that at least one wheel was placed on the verge of the footway. This had allowed some motorists, particularly motorcyclists, to have PCNs rejected.
Cllr Daniel Moylan, chair of London Councils’ transport and environment committee, said: ‘We are continually seeking improved ways to ensure that everyone is able to travel across the capital smoothly and safely.
‘This new Act will further help to achieve this by tackling those selfish motorists who believe that they are above the law.’ The new Act, most of which comes into force on the 21 September, also enables a traffic authority to prohibit or restrict traffic on roads so that film-making can take place.
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