What does 'civil' parking enforcement mean?
The difference lies in the details of the respective legislation.
Once, if you were issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice after committing an offence and if you did not pay the Notice, you may have ended up in a Magistrate's Court, which is a criminal court.
With Penalty Charge Notices associated with civil enforcement, the "offence" is a civil one and you do not have recourse to the Magistrate's Court system. Any unpaid debts will be pursued through a streamlined County Court system culminating in bailiff action.
Last updated: 30 April 2008
