Since 31st March 2008, Part 6 Traffic Management Act 2004 provides for councils operating civil parking enforcement under that Act to issue PCNs by post if the Civil Enforcement Officer is prevented from issuing one because the motorist acts in a threatening manner, or drives away before it can be affixed, or when the parking contravention has been detected on the basis of evidence from a camera.
Yes, I am aware of that, Kempie, and indeed remember Birmingham passing control for parking to the council in 2004.
But I believed the parts of the Act that came in to force this year were 'add ons' and not automatic countrywide.
Where I live, for example, the council has control of the on street parking, but haven't adopted the part of the Act that would make them responsible for the enforcement of parking across driveways - and they have no plans to adopt it either but of costs.
Parking across driveways is subject to local authorities applying for an order to set up "special enforcement areas" (Sections 84 to 86 of TMA 2004) but this does not relate to the common-or-garden parking enforcement contraventions. The 31st March change allows all authorities which issue parking PCNs to post them if necessary.