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Civil Traffic Enforcement in the UK

Changes to legislation are harmonising the civil traffic enforcement procedures throughout England and include provisions for the production of evidence from Closed Circuit TV cameras and associated recording equipment.

Such devices, or parts of a device not covered by an existing recognised approval, must be certified by the Secretary of State for Transport to show that the complete system is an "approved device". The Vehicle Certification Agency has been appointed to do this on behalf of the Secretary of State.

The Department for Transport publishes the following documentation:

The Certification of Approved Devices (544KB) is the current guidance document that describes the certification procedure.

In addition, the Department for Transport lists the Certifications issued (will take you to the DfT website) (page opens in a new browser window)

These are three other relevant documents:

Provisional guidance on bus lane (including tramway) enforcement (482KB)
This gives general advice to local authorities outside London on how to undertake civil bus lane enforcement in accordance with the Transport Act 2000.

Civil enforcement of parking contraventions - statutory guidance (107KB) 
This sets out the policy framework for civil parking enforcement under the Traffic Management Act 2004 and advises local authorities throughout England on how to carry-out such enforcement.

Operational Guidance to Local Authorities (page opens in a new browser window)
This contains more detailed advice on civil parking enforcement and tells members of the public as well as local authorities about parking policies and their enforcement.

Independent adjudicators have been appointed to deal with unresolved disputes about Penalty Charge Notices issued by traffic authorities for civil bus lane or parking contraventions.  Further advice is available from:

PATROL (for contraventions outside London) (page opens in a new browser window)
The Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (for contraventions in London) (page opens in a new browser window)