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In this Issue

	Did you miss the SPARKS webcast with HMCS and European Commission?
	Cross-border fines enforcement started on 1 October
	Consequences of the Lisbon Treaty for traffic enforcement
	Swedish Presidency commits to action on transport
	Overseas visitors prove costly
	Feedback

In Other News

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Welcome to the October edition of the SPARKS Network ezine, which helps local authorities and police forces improve enforcement of traffic and parking regulations against vehicles registered in other countries.

Did you miss the SPARKS webcast with HMCS and European Commission?

Listen to the recording of SPARKS Network manager Bill Blakemore discussing the new cross-border fines enforcement legislation with officials from the UK's Ministry of Justice and European Commission in this webcast broadcast on 9 October.

Dr Sue Rayner Jacobs, Richard Beston, Adrianna Miekina and Bill discuss implications for the police, the courts, local authorities, bailiffs and many others involved in issuing and collecting financial penalties.

Live webcast with HMCS

Cross-border fines enforcement started on 1 October

European legislation that allows fines issued in one country to be enforced through the criminal system in another came into force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 1 October 2009 and Scotland on 12 October.

Analysis of the new legislation & media coverage

Consequences of the Lisbon Treaty for traffic enforcement

The Lisbon Treaty, which should be ratified by the end of the year, gives the European Commission and Parliament new justice and home affairs powers. Once the treaty is ratified they will be able to revisit the cross-border enforcement directive that stalled at the end of 2008.

What this means for traffic enforcement agencies

Swedish Presidency commits to action on transport

Intelligent transport systems, passenger rights, competitive freight transport and development of transport after 2010 are priorities for the incoming Swedish Presidency according to Minister for Communications Asa Torstensson.

In her first appearance before the European Parliament transport and tourism committee Sweden’s transport representative said that her government was committed to finding solutions to alleviate various traffic issues but was waiting for Lisbon to be ratified to solve the stalemate on the cross-border enforcement directive.

Read the full article here

Overseas visitors prove costly

Parking News features SPARKS Network efforts to persuade UK and EU politicians to improve enforcement against foreign vehicles in its October edition.

SPARKS is the only body campaigning to improve traffic enforcement so that drivers obey both civil and criminal law in all member states, regardless of their citizenship or where their vehicle is registered.

Read the article here

Feedback

We welcome your views on this ezine, which should be addressed to the editor Jo Ann Sweeney at

jo.ann01@btconnect.com