Beware the yellow peril - new traffic wardens set to hit Inverness streets
The wardens, who start on Monday, have been given new two-tone blue uniforms which are fitted with body cameras and come with an optional stab-proof vest.
They will be on duty seven days a week from 8am until 10pm and parking restrictions will apply during these times.
Gone will be the more relaxed approach to Sunday and early evening parking which applies in the city centre’s Restricted Zones, and the message to drivers is: “To avoid fines, read the signs and lines.”
Highland Council has taken over Decriminalised Parking Enforcement from the police at a cost of £500,000.
The council’s principal traffic manager, Shane Manning, said: “Pavement parking in the city centre’s Restricted Zones can be an issue at present.
“With streetscaping there are no yellow lines and therefore the basic rule is if you are not in an appropriate bay, then you will have to pay a fine.”
There are bays for pre-payment meters, loading, disabled, taxis and buses.
At present some pedestrian areas in restricted zones such as Church Street and Huntly Street are considered by drivers to be fair game on a Sunday or after 5pm - but now enforcement officers will be clamping down.
The council has also been in discussion with churches where traditionally congregations have taken a more relaxed attitude to Sabbath parking.
Mr Manning said: “We have had approaches from churches and are in discussion with them and are offering advice on how the restrictions will be enforced where bad habits have been established.
“Some pavement parking restrictions will be eased on Sundays, such as on some loading bays.”
Stewart Nicol, chief executive of the Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said: “The message from Highland Council is that it is not going to be aggressive in enforcement but its main reason is to facilitate better parking in the city and towns around Highland, and I hope that is the case.
“My view is that in Inverness city centre it is long overdue because the parking infringements have been pretty widespread since the police wardens left. We need to get proper control of parking back into the streets to help the city function properly.”
The 11-strong team of enforcement officers will issue warning notices for the first two weeks then after that they will issue £60 Penalty Charge Notices which are halved to £30 if they are paid within 14 days.
Money from fines will only be spent on maintaining the service and any surplus can only be used for traffic-related projects. Police Scotland will still be responsible for traffic offences such as dangerous parking or obstruction.
Maps are now on the council website to show the areas where parking restrictions apply.
