Types of On-Street Parking Restrictions
The types of parking control within the area of Sandwell are as follows.
Restricted streets
A restricted street is one where waiting by vehicles is prohibited during prescribed hours. In addition, there may be restrictions at certain times on loading or unloading.
Yellow lines marked on the carriageway denote the waiting restrictions and yellow kerb markings show where there are restrictions on loading and unloading.
In addition to yellow carriageway markings and yellow kerb markings, time plates are displayed on posts showing the hours during which the restrictions apply, except on double yellow lines, where waiting is prohibited at all times. The signs and lines apply to the side of the road on which they are located - there may be different restrictions on each side of the road.
The restrictions apply to all the highway land from the centre of the road including any verge or footway behind the carriageway. Only land known to be private, such as some forecourts, is exempted from the restrictions.
There are no exemptions from the restrictions on Bank Holidays.
Red Routes are also restricted streets and further information on these is given later.
The prescribed hours vary from place to place according to local conditions, and are indicated by two types of carriageway markings.
Double Yellow Lines
A double yellow line means waiting of vehicles on that side of the road is prohibited at any time during a period of at least four consecutive months. In Sandwell, there are no seasonal reasons for waiting restrictions and double yellow lines therefore apply throughout the year. These are enforceable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A time plate is not required.
Single Yellow Lines
A single yellow line indicates that waiting of vehicles is prohibited at specific times only. The times during which waiting is prohibited will be shown on fixed plates within the length of restricted street.
It is permissible to stop briefly on a yellow line, whether single or double, in order to set down or pick up a passenger, or for the period of time necessary to load or unload goods from the vehicle into adjacent premises. Time to select goods not already pre-ordered or purchased is not included in this period of time.
The vehicle must be essential to the activity to constitute loading and the goods must be sufficiently heavy or bulky as to require the vehicle to be parked close to the collection or delivery point. There are additional considerations in the case of a driver making commercial deliveries.
Loading Restrictions
On some streets, or parts of streets it is necessary to ban loading and unloading for varying periods. These bans are only applied on restricted streets and are supported by time plates. The markings are as follows: -
Double Kerb Marking
The loading or unloading of vehicles on that side of the length of road is prohibited at all times.
Single Kerb Marking
The loading or unloading of vehicles on that side of the length of road is prohibited during the times shown on the time plates.
Parking Places/Bays
A parking place consists of a bay or a number of bays or parking spaces which are indicated on the carriageway by white markings, with double white markings denoting the limits. There will be restrictions on parking in the spaces during the times indicated on adjacent plates.
Pay and Display Parking Places Signs bearing the words "Pay at meter Display ticket" and an arrow pointing to the pay and display machine indicate these parking places.
Any motorist is permitted to leave his or her vehicle in these parking places if he or she obtains a ticket from the ticket machine and displays it so as to be readily visible to a Civil Enforcement Officer.
The ticket must be face-up, so that the purchase details including the expiry time can be read.
There will be a maximum time allowed for parking in a Pay & Display bay and a minimum period which must have elapsed before a vehicle may return to park again in the same bay.
The details will be shown on the plate on the Pay & Display machine. Further tickets must not be purchased to extend the time paid for, after initially parking, beyond the total maximum waiting period allowed.
Drivers must check that all the coins they have entered into the machine have been registered before pressing the button to purchase a ticket. The amount is shown on the display on the machine.
They should then also check the expiry time printed on the ticket.
A Penalty Charge Notice may be issued if the vehicle remains parked after the expiry time, although a discretionary grace period may be given by Sandwell Council.
Limited Waiting Bays
Parking in these is free. However, the time for which a motorist may stay and the period which must have elapsed before he or she can return to park again in the same bay are shown on the adjacent sign.
A discretionary grace period may be given by Sandwell Council after the maximum waiting time has been exceeded before a Penalty Charge Notice is issued.
Residents' Parking Places
Parking places for residents' vehicles only are indicated by signs bearing the words "Resident Permit holders only".
Residents who use these facilities must obtain a permit from the Council and display it on their vehicles. The parking places may be reserved for residents' permit holders at all times, or at specific times or days only. Details will be given on plates within the length of the parking place.
Some bays will allow vehicles not displaying a residents' permit to park at certain times for a limited period, as for limited waiting bays. The details of when they may do this will be shown on time plates. At other times, no-one may park without displaying a valid permit.
Some bays are also available for use by displaying a valid resident's permit or by displaying a Pay & Display ticket. The times at which this applies will be shown on time plates.
Resident Zone
Conditions are the same as for the Resident Parking Scheme. However, there are no road markings and the signs are displayed facing the oncoming traffic.
Specialised Parking Places
Doctor Parking Places
Parking places for doctors' vehicles only are indicated by signs bearing a "P" symbol and the legend "Doctor Permit holders only". The parking places will be enclosed by a broken white line and will be marked with the word "DOCTOR" on the carriageway.
Solo Motor Cycle Bays
In some streets a space may be set aside for the parking of solo motor cycles, and the bay will be marked on the carriageway with the words "Motor Cycles".
Disabled Badge Holder Parking Bays
Parking bays reserved for vehicles displaying a disabled person's badge are indicated on the carriageway by white markings denoting the limits of the bay and the word "Disabled". There is an adjacent sign on the footway bearing the "P" and Disabled Persons symbol and the legend "Disabled Badge Holders only".
The sign will give information on the times at which the bay is reserved for vehicles displaying a disabled person's badge. Vehicles must display a Blue Badge obtained from a local authority during these times. The sign will usually also specify a maximum period of waiting which applies to vehicles displaying a valid blue badge.
Taxi Bays
Taxi parking bays are indicated on the carriageway by yellow lines denoting the limits of the bay and marked with the word "TAXIS". There will be a time plate saying that no waiting is allowed except for taxis. This may be at any time or at specified times only.
Loading Bays
Loading bays are bays reserved for parking in order for loading or unloading to be carried out. They are indicated on the carriageway by white lines denoting the limits of the bay and marked with the words "Loading only". There will be an adjacent sign also saying "Loading only" and the times at which the restriction applies.
Restrictions for Buses
Bus Stop Clearways
A single thick yellow line, a yellow bay marking and the words "BUS STOP" in yellow on the carriageway indicate a restricted bus stop. On posts adjacent to the bus stop or on the bus shelter are time plates bearing a "no stopping" symbol, the words "no stopping except buses" and the times at which the prohibition applies. This is usually at any time, but may be for a lesser period. There are no exemptions for loading or unloading, or for picking up or setting down passengers.
School Entrance Restrictions
School Keep Clear markings
A yellow zig-zag line and the words "School Keep Clear" in yellow on the carriageway indicate an area outside a school entrance where no stopping is allowed during the times on the signs on either side of the marking. There are no exemptions for loading or unloading, or for picking up or setting down passengers.
Pedestrian Crossing Zig-Zag Areas
No stopping is allowed on a zebra or pedestrian crossing including the areas marked by white zig-zag lines. There are no exemptions for loading or unloading, or for picking up or setting down passengers.
The Police may also issue a Fixed Penalty Notice to a vehicle parked in these areas, and this remains an endorsable offence.
Heavy Goods Vehicles Parked on Verges or Footways
Heavy goods vehicles which exceed 7.5 tonnes maximum gross weight must not park on a verge or footway. There are no signs or lines required to show that this is so, and this applies nationally.
Vehicles Double Parked or Away From the Kerb, Causing a hazard or Obstruction
The Traffic Management Act 2004 gives local authorities operating civil parking enforcement the power to issue a Penalty Charge Notice to any vehicle parked more than 50cm from the kerb. In Sandwell this will only be done if the vehicle is double parked outside a parking bay adjacent to the kerb, or if the vehicle is parked towards the middle of the road so that it causes a hazard or obstruction to traffic.
Clearways and Red Routes
Clearways and Red Route Clearways are marked by signs bearing the "no stopping" cross. No stopping is allowed and there are no exemptions for loading or unloading, or for picking up or setting down passengers.
Red Routes which are not Red Route Clearways are marked with the usual markings associated with no waiting, limited waiting, loading only, permit or other specific parking purpose only, except that the markings are in red instead of yellow or white.
Where the type of marking would normally denote no waiting, there is no stopping and the exemptions for loading or unloading, or for picking up or setting down passengers do not apply, except in the case of a disabled passenger in a vehicle displaying a valid Blue Badge.
Restricted Zone
Restricted Zones use vertical signs to restrict parking with no yellow line markings. The signs are displayed facing the motorists. Waiting or loading is not permitted except in marked bays.
Blue Badge holders are not permitted to park in Restricted Zones.
Discretion
Civil Enforcement Officers have no discretion or authority to allow motorists to park in contravention of any restriction. Civil Enforcement Officers have no discretion or authority to cancel a PCN after they have started to issue it.
Enforcement of Waiting Restrictions
A vehicle is considered to be parked on a length of restriction if any part of the restriction is below the vehicle or its load (if any). However, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will only be issued if at least a full wheel is on the restriction.
Under normal circumstances, a Civil Enforcement Officers will issue a PCN to any vehicle as soon as he or she is satisfied that a contravention has occurred. This will be after a period of observation to assess whether any of the exemptions apply to the vehicle, such as if any loading or unloading is taking place, or a Pay & Display ticket or visitor voucher for parking in a resident's' permit bay is being obtained.
The observation times currently in use are 3 minutes for yellow lines, loading bays, disabled person's bays, taxi bays, Pay & Display bays and permit bays other than residents' bays, where the period is 5 minutes. Five minutes are also given to liveried goods vehicles on yellow lines or in loading bays.
In all other cases, since the exemptions do not apply, no period of observation is required, and a Penalty Charge Notice may be issued immediately.
It should be made clear that these periods of observation may be subject to change. They are not a period of time in which parking is allowed even if the exemption does not apply. In certain circumstances, a Civil Enforcement Officer may issue a Penalty Charge Notice without observing the vehicle for the above periods if he or she is satisfied that the contravention has occurred.
Dispensations / Waivers
The Council, through the Parking Control Office, may issue a waiver indicating a dispensation from the parking regulations. A charge is made for issuing a waiver. The waiver will bear the registration number of the vehicle, together with the time and purpose for which the dispensation is granted and the place where the vehicle is authorised to wait.
Applications for waivers will be considered when it is essential for the vehicle to be parked on a restriction, in close proximity to adjacent premises, such as to carry out building works or to deposit or collect cash in excess of £1000.
Evidence of the activity to be carried out and the need for parking in the proposed location may be requested before a waiver will be issued.
The vehicle must be parked in accordance with the times, location and for the purpose described on the dispensation; otherwise a Penalty Charge Notice may be issued.
Suspended Parking Bays
Vehicles must not be parked in a parking bay if the use of the bay has been suspended. This is shown by means of signs within the length of the affected bay, indicating that the use of the bay is suspended. Vehicles parking in suspended Pay and Display or residents' permit bays may be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice.
Disabled Persons
There are special concessions for disabled badge holders and for vehicles belonging to institutions caring for the disabled. The concessions are as follows:
- Exemption from waiting restrictions shown by yellow lines, for a maximum period of three hours. The vehicle must not be returned to again park in the same street within one hour after the period of first parking.
- Exemption from the requirement to pay charges for leaving a vehicle in a Pay & Display bay
- Exemption from any time limit imposed on vehicles waiting in a parking place or bay
- Exemption from the requirement that a period must elapse before a vehicle which has been taken away from a parking place may again be left in the same parking place (this does not apply to yellow lines)
In order for these concession to apply, the disabled badge must be displayed on the nearside front windscreen or in a conspicuous position on the vehicle with the front of the badge clearly visible, showing the serial number, expiry date and issuing authority. On single or double yellow lines the time clock must also be displayed, set to the time of first parking. There is no need to display the time clock on a single yellow line if the period during which waiting for all other vehicles is prohibited is for less than three continuous hours.
Disabled badge holders are not allowed to park in residents' parking bays in Sandwell.