Glossary of Terms

Debt Registration

The process of recording a parking or bus-lane debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) at the County Court, no fewer than fourteen days after the service of a Charge Certificate and where the penalty charge due has not been paid. (This is different in Scotland.) The registration of debt is an automated process and there is no right of personal representation during this process.

Decriminalisation

Under the Road Traffic Act 1991, the Secretary of State for Transport made Special Parking Orders, permitting a council to enforce contraventions of parking Regulations within a designated Special Parking Area. Such contraventions are not criminal offences subject to a Fixed Penalty Notice, but are enforced through civil procedures. Thus they are said to have been "decriminalised".

Bus-lane contraventions have not been decriminalised. While they may be enforced by a council through the civil procedure, they may also be enforced by the police through criminal proceedings. If the police begin criminal proceedings, the council cannot enforce through the civil procedure.

Discount Rate

A reduction in the penalty charge due if a Penalty Charge Notice is paid 14 days from the date of issue. The discount rate is 50% for both parking and bus-lane contraventions.

Discretion

The power of a council to cancel a parking or moving-traffic (bus-lane) penalty if it deems fit.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, based in Swansea.

DVLA

See above.