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Bus lane enforcement

Only buses and emergency services are permitted to drive in Medway bus lanes, however some do permit taxis to drive in them. Drivers are advised to check the signage at each location. Any motorist who contravenes the regulations will be captured by CCTV and once the footage is reviewed and the enforcement officers believe that a contravention has occurred, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be served to the registered owner/keeper of the vehicle by post.

The PCN is served at the statutory charge of £60 but discounted to £30 if paid within the first 14 days from service. After this time the fine reverts back to its statutory charge of £60. This enforcement practice will be carried out under the Transport Act 2000 - Bus lane contraventions (Penalty Charges, Adjudication and Enforcement (England) Regulations 2005.

If a motorist feels that they have grounds for appeal they can do so by contesting the issue of the PCN. The representations must be submitted within 28 days from the date of service of the PCN. If Medway Council receives your representations within the 14-day period, the PCN will be held at the reduced rate until a decision has been reached. If the council rejects the representations and you are not satisfied with the council’s rejection, the next stage of the PCN process means you are able to appeal to an independent adjudicator. Further information regarding the appeals process can be found on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal page.

If, after 28 days, we have not received payment or representation has not been made, a statutory document called the charge certificate will be served and the fine will increase by 50 per cent, meaning that the registered owner / keeper of the vehicle will now be legally responsible to pay £90.

If a PCN remains unpaid 14 days after a charge certificate has been served, the council can then register the debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC). The council is required to pay a fee of £7 to register each PCN. Once a PCN has been registered with the TEC they send out authority to issue an order for recovery of unpaid penalty charges (PE2). This would list the amount outstanding against the penalty charge notice. The amount outstanding would comprise of the unpaid PCN, plus the £7 registration fee. Once in receipt of the PE2 (which would also include a statutory declaration form, or PE3) the motorist has a further 21 days from receipt of the order to either pay the amount outstanding or send to the TEC a completed statutory declaration form (PE3) requesting that registration of the unpaid penalty charge notice be revoked.

However, there are only three grounds on which a statutory declaration can be made, these are:

  • The motorist did not receive a PCN.
  • The motorist made representation to the council about the penalty charge and did not receive a rejection notice.
  • The motorist appealed to a parking adjudicator against the council’s decision to reject his or her representations, but received no response to the appeal.

Where the motorist has been served with an order for recovery of unpaid penalty charge (PE2) and fails to pay or to complete a statutory declaration, the council can ask the TEC for authority to prepare a warrant of execution. This authorises a certificated bailiff after gaining entrance to the property to levy distress, which entitles them to seize and sell goods belonging to the motorist to the value of the outstanding amount plus the cost of executing the warrant.

How to pay

Medway Council accepts payment by credit or debit card, postal order, cash and cheque. Please make all cheques payable to Medway Council. The PCN number on the parking ticket must be quoted when making payment. You can also pay by credit or debit card using our online payments facility. All major credit cards accepted except American Express (Amex).

By telephone

There is an automated payment line on 01634 334477 or Medway Customer First on 01634 333333

By post

You can make payment by post, using the envelope provided, or in person at Civic Centre, Annexe B, Strood, Kent, ME2 4AU.

 

For more information contact Parking Services by telephone: 01634 333333 or by email: customer.first@medway.gov.uk

Write to: Parking Services, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR

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