HL Deb 27 July 1977 vol 386 cc969-71
The Earl of SELKIRK

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an offence is inevitably committed by parking a car on a parking meter, without having the correct coin immediately available.

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, an offence is committed if a car is parked at a meter without payment during the hours of control, except when the car's stay is covered by unexpired time on the meter, or if the meter head is covered by an "out of order" bag, or if the vehicle is parked solely to load or unload, or if the vehicle is exempted under the order designating the parking area.

The Earl of SELKIRK

My Lords, that Question was not perhaps the simplest, but does the noble Baroness accept the dictum of the Lord Chief Justice, that the time allowed at the parking meter is only that required to get out of the car and put a coin in the meter? If that is correct, and if it is rigidly enforced, would it not be fair and perhaps courteous that parking meters should show outwardly what coin is required—whether it be an old 6d, a new 5p or a new 10p?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I should not like to comment on the dictum of the Lord Chief Justice. I shall certainly bring the points raised by the noble Earl to the attention of my right honourable friend. I am not certain about the significance of marking all the meters with the exact coin that is required. I should have thought that by now they would all have been converted to new coins, but it is certainly a point which I shall take up with my right honourable friend.

Lord INGLEWOOD

My Lords, may I ask whether the noble Baroness would agree that my noble friend's point would be met if traffic wardens could be given some modest discretion, which at present is not allowed to them?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, if there is difficulty because someone does not have the correct change in his pocket when he arrives at a parking meter, I am sure that, if a traffic warden is there and the situation is explained, the warden will be co-operative. The fact remains that traffic wardens are not in sufficient supply to enable one to be parked at every meter. Therefore, it is not possible for us always to have someone there to co-operate with the motorist who is without the exact change.

Lord BALFOUR of INCHRYE

My Lords, would it not be possible for traffic wardens, as well as having booking orders in their satchels, to be allowed to have a purse with a few 5p pieces? That would be a tremendous convenience and help to motorists who wish to pay, but inadvertently have no 5p piece.

Baroness STEDMAN

Yes, my Lords, in an ideal situation, if we had one traffic warden at every meter. But our manpower situation is not such that we can do that.

Lord ARDWICK

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that many traffic wardens look nicer than they actually are?

Baroness STEDMAN

That, my Lords, is a matter of opinion.

Lord SEGAL

Alternatively, my Lords, would the Government consider installing a coin changing machine at certain designated parking areas?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I should have thought that that might have been a very expensive project. But I will certainly bring it to the attention of my right honourable friend.

The Earl of SELKIRK

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that parking meters are very far from uniform? Quite a variety of coins is required, and, if inflation goes on, many more coins will probably be required. Have parking meter attendants any discretion at all in this matter?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, as I have said, if there is a warden there and if there are problems and the driver explains the situation to him or her, I am certain that a period of grace will be allowed to enable the motorist to get change. But if you have a ticket, the only person who can cancel it is the chief officer of police.