Report Summary
Issued 24 May 2023, this FOI response confirms that information requested on officer ability to issue parking tickets is not held by the Scottish Police Authority. Advice is provided that Police Scotland may hold information.
Request
Dumfries and Galloway have no parking attendants or traffic wardens resulting in the total disregard by drivers who seem to be able to park illegally wherever and when ever they want in contravention of the law and road traffic acts and regulations. This causes major issues for children, parents with prams and disabled people, my daughter, who uses a wheelchair and disability scooter included.
Today, the 22/05/2023 at 14: 50 pm I noted a large van again parked half on double yellow lines and half on the pavement causing a serious blockade for pedestrians, disabled people, prams and wheelchairs in Galloway Street, Dumfries, DG2 7TN for a considerable time. I have previously noted this van on various occasions.
As I was about to take photographs of the offence in order to report the offence when a large police car drew up to the traffic lights at the Glasgow Road, Galloway Street traffic lights and stopped right beside the offending van.
I approached the driver of this police car, a large obvious traffic car, and asked the driver to observe the van illegally parked on double yellow lines and the pavement and suggested they issue a parking ticket. It was shocking to hear the female police officer driving the car, who was clearly driving a Traffic Car reply; "I know, but we do not carry tickets".
Can I ask under the "Freedom of Information Act" if this is the case? Do Traffic Officers have no responsibility or ability to issue parking tickets for illegal parking in Dumfries and Galloway when pedestrians, parents, children and the disabled are being forced to avoid such illegal parked vans?
If I was stopped by this police car and its occupants for speeding or any other road traffic act act violation, would they be unable to issue me a "ticket" for such illegal driving or road traffic violation because they do not carry the necessary 'tickets'.