parking jargon

ANPR is digital camera technology designed to automatically read and record vehicle number plates

An IPC AOS member is a parking operator who has been certified by the IPC to manage private land and to enforce parking charges in compliance with the Code of Practice.

A BPA AOS member is a parking operator managing private land to enforce parking charges, or a debt resolution agent involved in the resolution of unpaid parking charges.

 An ATA is a parking trade association that has been accredited by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). For a parking operator to obtain keeper details or DVLA data, they must belong to a DVLA Accredited Trade Association (ATA) and abide by the ATA’s Code of Practice. 

There are currently two ATAs serving the UK parking industry, The International Parking Community (IPC) and the British Parking Association (BPA). 

IPC ASP members have been certified by the IPC against the Code of Practice for the process of resolving unpaid parking charges. 

ASP members are not involved in the issuing of parking charges.  

An appeal is where a motorists is challenging the validity of a parking charge and will be investigated in line with the parking operators appeals process

 The BPA is one of only two ATA's accredited by the DVLA presiding over the UK parking industry. 

The other ATA is the IPC

 CCTV technology is commonly used to help monitor car park facilities, manage private land along with many other security monitoring applications.  

 Most local authorities in the UK will also be Civil Enforcement Areas (CEA). Mandated by the Traffic Management Act 2004, a local authority’s enforcement powers will be enhanced if they are also a Civil Enforcement Area. This means that they can also enforce parking infractions on roadways like double parking and loading restrictions. 

A Consideration Period is a non-contractually binding period of time given to a motorist to read the terms and conditions on car park signage so that the motorist can make an informed choice about whether they wish to use a particular parking facility and, by so doing, agree to be bound by those terms and conditions.

A Consideration Period is not a period of free parking to nip to the shops or drop off a passenger.

Where a driver does not want to be bound by the terms and conditions of parking they should leave the site immediately.

The single Code of Practice released by the IPC and the BPA that is active from 1st October 2024.

Where a parking charge remains unpaid the parking operator may issue legal proceedings via the County Court. If the Court finds in the parking operators favour a motorist can be issued with a CCJ. 

 The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is a government body that administers driver and vehicle licensing records in the UK.  

 A Grace Period is a 10 minute period for vehicle to exit a car park at the end of a permitted period of parking. 

Grace Periods will only be observed if the driver has complied with all the other terms and conditions of parking.

A Grace Period is not a free period of parking to nip to she shops or drop off a passenger.

 The IPC is one of only two ATA's accredited by the DVLA presiding over the UK parking industry. 

The other ATA is the BPA.

 The IAS is independent appeals service for motorists seeking redress where a parking ticket has been issued by a parking operator who is a member of The IPC's Accredited Operator Scheme (AOS).  

London Tribunals is an appellate body which considers parking appeals from motorists who have been issued with a Penalty Charge Notice issued by a London Local Authority or by Transport for London. 

London Tribunals was previously known as the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (PATAS) which also supports the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators and the Road User Charging Adjudicators as well as parking violations.  

 POPLA is an independent appeals service for motorists seeking redress where a parking ticket has been issued by a parking operator who is a member of The BPA's Accredited Operator Scheme (AOS).
 

A charge issued by a private parking operator where a driver has parked in contravention of terms and conditions on private land.

A parking charge is not a local authority penalty charge

Is land managed by Local Authorities through the Traffic Management Act.

Means land ordinarily used for parking Vehicles where only specific people and/or Vehicles are permitted. 

Private land is typically managed by contract law, where the contract is brought to the attention of the driver

The registered keeper of a vehicle Is the person listed by the DVLA on the V5 registration document

This can be either the owner or hirer of the car.

It is the registered keeper's responsibility to ensure that the car is taxed, insured, and has a valid MOT certificate.

 The TPT is an appellate body which considers parking appeals from motorists who have been issued with a Penalty Charge Notice administered by a local authority in England and Wales but outside London.