Traffic Management Act (TMA) 2004

What is the Traffic Management Act 2004?

“The Traffic Management Act 2004 is intended to provide better conditions for all road users through proactive management of the national and local road network”  (DfT Website)

In practical terms for the motorist, the Traffic Management Act provides the legal framework for parking.

When is the new Traffic Management Act coming into effect?

On March 31 2008, the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) replaces the Road Traffic Act 1991 (RTA) as the primary piece of legislation covering parking in England and Wales.

What are the main changes?

On a day to day basis there will be no noticeable change to the Council’s parking enforcement service.

The TMA introduce a few subtle changes in that Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) will become Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) and parking attendants will be known as civil enforcement officers (CEO’s). The wording on a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will also change to reflect the new act.

The TMA promotes consistency in parking regulations, processes and enforcement both within and outside of London. It attempts to strike a balance between a system that is fair to the motorist, yet still effective in enforcing parking regulations.

Civil Enforcement Officers

What is a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO)?

A Parking Attendant will now be called a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO), and will be required to fulfill a wider remit than previously under the Road Traffic Act (RTA).

Will the work that a Civil Enforcement Officer carries out change?

A CEO’s main objective remains to ensure that parking controls are observed and enforced in a fair, accurate and consistent manner. However, a CEO’s duties will also include related activities such as:

• inspecting parking equipment;
• checking and reporting defective parking signs and road markings; and
• issuing information leaflets and warning notices where appropriate.

The CEO may also be asked to undertake other tasks, including:

• reporting suspected abandoned vehicles;
• reporting vehicles with no valid tax disc to the DVLA