We are responsible for monitoring on-street parking in Devon. Our traffic wardens (known as Civil Enforcement Officers) patrol most principal roads daily. As a driver, it’s your responsibility to check your parking place for any restrictions, and to make sure any ticket or permit is clearly displayed.
If you are unsure where to park refer to the Highway Code Waiting and Parking guidelines.
Waiting and parking regulations are enforced through Traffic Regulation Orders. These are written legal agreements developed by the police and local authorities to manage parking and ensure a safe, free-flow of traffic. Most Traffic Regulation Orders are created as a result of input from local communities and the police to address specific traffic congestion, or quality of life, issues.
Devon County Council is a member of the Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL) Adjudication Joint Committee. PATROL provides information about parking tickets, how to pay them and how to challenge them.
Traffic wardens or Civil Enforcement Officers
Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) enforce parking restrictions using powers issued by the Secretary of State under regulations within the Traffic Management Act 2004. This means parking enforcement is our responsibility, but the police are responsible for illegal offences, such as dangerous parking and obstruction.
CEOs patrol all streets with pay and display parking, double yellow lines and other parking restrictions, as well as off-street car parks. They check whether cars are parked appropriately and issue parking tickets to vehicles parked in contravention of the Traffic Regulation Orders.
Once a parking ticket has been issued the CEO can’t withdraw or cancel it. You must challenge the ticket in writing.
CEOs have no power to remove a vehicle blocking or restricting a private driveway. The police may be able to use powers to deal with obstruction offences to get an offending vehicle removed.
Find out more
Traffic Regulation Orders
Parking tickets
Parking permits
Car parks in Devon