Northern Ireland

Just 27 motorists fined in three years for parking in cycle lanes

Cycle lanes blocked on the Ravenhill Road in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann
Cycle lanes blocked on the Ravenhill Road in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann Cycle lanes blocked on the Ravenhill Road in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

JUST 27 motorists have been issued with fines in Northern Ireland since 2013 for parking illegally in designated cycle lanes.

Figures obtained by The Irish News from the Department of Infrastructure through a freedom of information request show just three people so far this year have been reprimanded for the offence, while it has emerged traffic attendants do not have the necessary powers to impose sanctions in two types of cycle lane common around Belfast.

Mandatory cycle lanes at road level are separated from the rest of the carriageway by a solid white line or by a raised traffic island. Traffic attendants may only enforce the law in these cycle lanes and will issue Penalty Charge Notices to any vehicles parked illegally.

Advisory cycle lanes also at road level, but separated from the rest of the carriageway by a broken white line and footway cycle tracks cannot be enforced by traffic attendants, so motorists cannot be fined for parking offences committed in these lanes.

Just eight Penalty Charge Notices (PCNS) were issued in 2015 for illegal parking in cycling lanes compared to just six in 2014 and ten in 2013.

According to a spokesman from the Department of Infrastructure "a penalty charge is intended to discourage drivers from parking illegally. It is not a fine, it is a civil charge owing to a civil authority. This type of enforcement is known as Decriminalised Parking Enforcement and does not involve court appearance"

In response to the figures the spokesman added: "The Department does not have any powers to enforce against drivers of vehicles illegally using cycle lanes. However it is responsible for the enforcement of vehicles parked illegally in mandatory cycle lanes which are mainly located in the Belfast area."

When a PCN is issued the amount due is £90. However, if payment is received within 14 days a 50 per cent discount will apply. This discount is offered to encourage prompt payment.