FOI Request - Penalty Charge Notices

Request 101003525350

Information Requested

We understand that following a consultation held by Transport Scotland as part of their review of Penalty Charge Notice levels for parking enforcement, Scottish Local Authorities acquired powers to issue PCNs from 1st April 2023 at an increased amount of up to £100
(reduced by 50% if paid early).

By way of explanation we refer to a Transport Scotland letter dated 17th February 2023 sent to all Scottish Local Authorities notifying of Maximum amounts of Penalty Charge levels that
were able to be enforced from 1st April 2023 as follows:

Penalty Charge Notice          Paid within            Paid between                   Paid between               Paid after service
(PCN) may now                   14 days                15 days and service          isssue of Notice           of charge certificate
be in the range of:                                              of Notice to Owner          to Owner and
Level of PCN                                                                                           service of charge
                                                                                                                 certificate

Lower                                      £40                              £80                             £80                                       £120
Higher                                      £50                              £100                           £100                                     £150

We are writing to request the below information:

1. On what date did you start issuing PCNs in accordance with the increased amount

2. What maximum amount do you now enforce, £80 or £100 (before a charge certificate
is issued)?

3. How many PCNs did you issue in the month before that date?

4. How many PCNs have you issued each subsequent month afterwards?

5. How many PCNs did you issue over the same monthly period the year before?

We assert that disclosure of this information is in the public interest – and please note this request is not made with a view to criticise the increased fine deterrent levels but instead to assess changes in motorist behaviours/improved compliance with the parking rules as a result.

Response 01-04-2024

This relates to a Transport Scotland ruling on Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for on-street parking and are carrying out on-street enforcement instead of Police Scotland. Moray Council are not decriminalised and it is still the responsibility of Police Scotland to enforce on-street parking, therefore the information requested is not held.    

Moray Council issue excess charge notices for off street parking and it is the Council who set the level of these charges.

1.-5. Not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.