Overview
Since 3 October 2016, The Highland Council has managed parking enforcement through a system called Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE). This is based on powers given to councils under the Road Traffic Act 1991.
What is Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE)?
DPE allows the Council to enforce most parking rules instead of the police. It covers:
- Permitted Parking Areas (PPA) – where parking is allowed under certain rules.
- Special Parking Areas (SPA) – where waiting and loading restrictions apply.
These areas cover the whole Highland Council area, as set out by law.
Who enforces what?
We:
- issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for parking, waiting, and loading offences
- have powers to remove vehicles in certain cases
Police Scotland:
- no longer issues tickets for these offences, except on most Trunk Roads, where they still issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs)
- continues to deal with criminal offences, such as obstructive or dangerous parking, across all roads
Our approach
We aim to be fair but firm in how we manage parking. Our goal is to keep roads safe and traffic flowing, while supporting access for all road users.