Illegally parked vehicles crushed to keep Rotherham streets safe

Towed Vauxhall Zafira on back of a lorry

A Vauxhall Zafira with 6 unpaid Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) against it for parking illegally in Rotherham has been crushed to keep our roads clear and safe.

Persistent offenders who flout traffic laws in Rotherham have had 25 vehicles impounded since 1 April, 2023. Council parking enforcement officers continue to work to keep our streets safe and disabled parking bays clear of illegally parked vehicles by impounding repeat offenders who haven’t paid their fines.

Cllr Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, said: “We’re dedicated to safer roads and keeping them clear of problem parking. It’s also essential that we stop misuse of disabled bays, to keep them available to people who have a right to use them.

“Inconsiderate parking is not exclusive to our town or town centre, but our staff are working hard to prevent persistent offenders and tow away their vehicles. Impounding vehicles combats drivers who think they’re beyond the reach of law by not registering as the owner of a vehicle when they buy it.”

Drivers who persist in parking illegally and have their vehicle impounded must pay their fines or have their vehicle crushed.

During the 2022/2023 financial year, the Council impounded 57 vehicles that were the subject of a total of 345 unpaid PCNs. In the year to date, 25 vehicles have been impounded, two of them have been crushed and seventeen released. 111 of 187 unpaid PCNs made against these vehicles have been paid. This compares to last year, when 14 of the 57 vehicles impounded were destroyed.

Tracy Simmons, Manager of Parkgate Mobility in Rotherham said: ‘Many of our customers are blue badge holders and they often say that the abuse of blue badge parking bays is a real problem. It’s great to hear that the Council takes this approach when drivers repeatedly breach the regulations.’

The Traffic Management Act allows for a vehicle to be impounded if it has three unpaid penalty charge notices issued against it.

Any surplus from parking enforcement is reinvested into the Council’s Highways Budget, which funds the boroughs roads network and street lighting etc.

Published: 12th October 2023