Archive for July, 2009

Heroes in disguise

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Parking attendants are accused of horrible things, they are often hated by the public in the UK and they have difficult jobs to do. Their job is to enforce the strict parking laws in the UK, which is no small feat. These men and women are essentially a form of law enforcement and should be taken seriously. Most motorists wouldn’t bat an eye at a parking attendant if they were not in violation of a parking law in some ways.

It is also good to note that not all is forever well in the land of parking attendants. Some, not all, do give the public reason to doubt them. And, ignorant as the general public is, they stick that label on every and all parking attendants that they see. However, parking attendants provide a vital and appreciated service, even if the public doesn’t realize it.

Keeping order

Many motorists are quick to jump on their soap boxes and start ranting and raving when a parking violator obstructs the traffic flow on the UK’s over congested roads. Traffic is so tight, travelling by car so difficult thanks to the many motorists and little road space. It is easy for an illegally parked car to cause a traffic jam because it is obstructing free traffic flow.

When a parking attendant tickets these cars passers by may be inclined to sympathise with the owner. However, the other motorists are just as happy that something is being done about the chaos that ensued after the car was parked illegally.

Parking attendants are little recognised heroes in disguise. They keep order on the roads, much like a comic superhero, however not many want to see it that way.

CEO duties above and beyond the norm

Monday, July 13th, 2009

You may be forgiven for thinking of a corporate CEO, but there is a new CEO in town. They are the civil enforcement officers of the UK and they mean business. What civil enforcement officers do is they look after the best interests of motorists on the UK’s roads and streets.

Their aim is to promote correct parking and adhering to the city’s parking laws. These laws are there for the safety of all and need to be enforced. The CEO is there to make sure that all motorists can safely and easily use the roads, parking areas and streets in the city.

When duty calls

Civil enforcement officers can issue you with what is known as a PCN. A PCN is a penalty charge notice, otherwise known as a parking ticket. They are there to aid you in understanding and adhering to parking laws and nab habitual parking offenders. Civil enforcement officers also need to report all broken traffic and parking signs and equipment. This makes it easier and more efficient for the city to deal with the problem.

They are also there to keep an eye on stationary items parked in public parking bays. This mostly refers to things like skips, and to make sure that they comply with the laws surrounding the situation.

Civil enforcement officers also need to report vehicles that are operating, parking included, without a valid tax disc. They make use of various equipment and hand held computing gadgets to help them in their cause. Civil enforcement officers are very much needed in a country as congested and overfull as the UK.

Role of a Civil Enforcement Officer

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

Many citizens of the UK disregard the authority of civil enforcement officers. They hate them and the laws that they uphold, or at least strive to uphold. The truth is that civil enforcement officers are much needed.

They provide the various cities of the UK with essential parking law enforcement, without which the city would plunge into chaos. Previously tagged as parking attendants, civil enforcement officers, or CEO’s, have a very well defined job description. And they perform their jobs to the best of their abilities despite public ignorance about them.

Not falling short of the law

Civil enforcement officers may not be traffic wardens or police officers; however they have the power to ticket you and enforce the parking laws of your city and the roads or streets you use. They are there to make sure that loading or waiting restrictions in parking areas are adhered to. They make sure that people pay the right amount and visibly display tickets when they are parked in pay and display spots where pay and display ticket machines are stationed.

They will enforce the right of a resident if you have parked in their parking space without a permit. They make sure that motorists do not park in prohibited bays or spaces such as bus lanes and stops, reserved parking or loading and disabled parking bays.

These are but a few of the responsibilities that weigh in on a civil enforcement officer’s shoulders. Without proper parking regulations the streets of your city could be thrown into traffic chaos.

Parking attendants versus traffic wardens

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Parking attendant jobs and parking enforcement jobs are sometimes not deemed to be the greatest, yet these men and women earn a good living and provide a vital service in cities across the UK. Most people have the idea that parking attendant jobs mean one thing only; giving tickets to motorists who do not obey the traffic rules. Yes, the primary objective of parking attendant jobs is to see that the roads are not obstructed.

They have to see that parking bays are not kept out of circulation by people parking there for longer than they may. They do much more than that as well. They are walking ambassadors for their cities and the UK. They answer questions of people, give them directions and lend a helping hand where they can.

Attendants and wardens

People are often confused between parking attendant jobs and traffic warden jobs. These are two types of jobs that are similar yet there is a distinction between them. Traffic wardens do patrols of the bus routes and see to the safety of pedestrian crossings. Traffic wardens also see to it that pavement are kept unobstructed.

Those that do parking attendant jobs patrol all public parking areas as well as the parking bays of residents. They also see to double; single parking lines and that no one parks there throughout the cities. It is a normal reaction for anyone to complain and grumble when receiving a parking ticket. Without the men and women in parking attendant jobs, the citizens, both pedestrians and motorists would have a lot more to complain about.

Parking attendants and public ignorance

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

You see parking attendants across the length and width of London each and every day. Most of the time people see them, yet they are simply part of the background movement around the city. The only times people really see parking attendants is when they need information and this will usually be tourists asking directions.

The other time people see parking attendants is when they have contravened some rule or regulation and they have been ticketed. This usually results in a furious motorist who vehemently denies his or her guilt. People are quite amazing really; they will stare straight at the evidence and yet refuse to admit they messed up. Parking attendants in the UK have come under fire mercilessly for dong their jobs. In actual fact, there have been reports of motorists becoming quite violent in their behaviour.

Take responsibility

Parking attendants are a necessity in the UK and indispensable in the mega cities such as London. It is a world known fact that London has impossibly congested traffic and that parking is at an absolute premium. Parking attendants spend their time outdoors in all types of weather to prevent people from just parking anywhere they like without caring about others.

It has been found that the public are highly ignorant of the laws and regulations that govern the UK. So much of the resentment that parking attendants suffer are totally preventable. People should take the responsibility to educate themselves about facts such as parking meter feeding.

Learn about buying parking vouchers as there is a huge difference between a parking voucher and a parking voucher for a resident. Less ignorance will make the life of motorists and parking attendants much easier all round.

Daily life as a Civil Enforcement Officer

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Everyone knows the bad rep that those in Civil Enforcement jobs have, but they do a vital job. So what makes a good CEO and how do they go about their days? The basic duties of all CEOs are to patrol the streets as well as the car parks and check that people are not parking illegally.

They issue PCNs [parking penalty charge notices] when necessary. The UK is exceedingly congested as to roads and parking facilities. The job of a CEO is to ensure that people do not hog parking and that everyone has a fair chance of getting parking.

Much more than issuing tickets

Those who work as civil enforcement officers firstly have to be fit as they are constantly walking throughout their working days. They need to have the personality that can deal with all types of people and have the patience to answer questions and give advice. Diplomacy and tact is necessary as people aren’t always polite, especially if they did something wrong.

A CEO must be able to handle frustration when people react illogically in situations.  The CEOS check up on road signs and road markings and report on graffiti and vandalism. They work alone or in pairs, depending on where they patrol and whether it is daytime or evening duties.

A good sense of humour is something that all CEOs must have to deal with the idiosyncrasies of humans on a daily basis and in all types of weather. In all, Civil Enforcement Officers will tell you that they enjoy their jobs as each day brings something different.