Drivers pay the penalty: Over 200,000 traffic violation tickets issued in Newham

Luke Jacobs Wednesday, September 5, 2012
8:00 AM

Traffic wardens and cameras in Newham issued the second highest number of tickets in London last year.

More than 220,000 motorists were fined for parking illegally during the 2011/2012 period.

This was more than neighbouring Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham combined, and double the number handed out in Tower Hamlets.

One in 20 penalty charge notices (PCNs) was dished out to ‘moving traffic’ or to people caught driving in bus lanes.

But the figures, released by London Councils, showed the number of drivers in Newham appealing the tickets fell sharply when compared to the previous year.

A total of 4,192 tickets were contested in 2011/12, up on the 2,454 in 2010/2011.

The figures show those who took their cases to the independent Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (PATAS) after first approaching the council.

The numbers of fines upheld or refused was split evenly, with 2,167 appeals allowed.

Brian MacDowall, from the Association of British Drivers (ABD), said the drop was down to fewer cars on the road.

He said: “I would put that down to the recession, traffic levels have fallen significantly. I would agree that councils are making a stronger case to win their arguments.

“If there has been a drop in the number of drivers winning appeals but a rise in the number of appeals then there is evidence to say that.”

The majority of Newham PCNs - 171,318 - were served on motorists committing ‘higher-level’ offences. These include parking on double yellow lines, stopping on a pedestrian crossing or bus stop and double parking.

Across London, the proportion of motorists who won their appeals against penalty charge notices fell by 11 per cent in the same period.

Nick Lester, from London Councils, said: “Local authorities are looking more carefully at representations from appeals. “(They are) winning significantly more of the cases heard by independent adjudicators.”