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In this Issue

	European Parliament takes initiative on urban mobility
	SPARKS raises cross-border concerns with UK MPs
	FRVs continue immunity from penalty charges in the UK
	Influential organisations join SPARKS Network
	Vote for new logo
	About SPARKS
	Legal Disclaimer
	Data Privacy
	Feedback

In Other News

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Welcome to the February 2009 edition of the SPARKS Network online newsletter, which highlights issues impacting enforcement of penalty charge notices in the UK and other EU member states. We hope you find the contents interesting and useful to you in your job.

European Parliament takes initiative on urban mobility

Euro MPs have published a 20-measure action plan to improve urban transport across Europe, following the European Commission’s failure to publish its Urban Mobility draft action plan by the end of 2008.

The MEPs’ measures will be discussed at the Transport Committee on 11 February with votes in March and April.

MEPs take initiative on urban transport

SPARKS raises cross-border concerns with UK MPs

SPARKS chair Nick Lester has given oral evidence to the House of Commons Transport Committee inquiry into taxes and charges for road users.

He explained the financial and economic impacts on London from unpaid penalties costing up to £50 million per annum in lost revenue, lost business and productivity and lost public transport investment.

SPARKS gives evidence to Transport Select Committee

FRVs continue immunity from penalty charges in the UK

Latest research reveals foreign registered vehicles continue to be immune from paying penalty charge notices they incur for parking, bus lane, moving traffic and congestion charge offences.

More than 90 per cent of penalty charge notices issued to foreign vehicles in London were not paid in 2007/08 reveals the research commissioned by SPARKS.

This research gives a snapshot of FRV PCN evasion in 2007/08 in London using data provided by members of the newly formed SPARKS Network.

FRVs immune from paying PCNs in London

Influential organisations join SPARKS Network

Credibility grows as influential organisations join SPARKS Network and contribute towards its activities.

Members include local authorities from Belgium, The Netherlands and the UK, police forces, the European and British parking associations and a small number of commercial members.

Upcoming activities will enable members to discuss issues and share local solutions they have developed, participate in research and influence national and European MPs.

Network influence grows

Vote for new logo

Help SPARKS choose a new logo that reflects its evolution into a membership network. We’ve shortlisted six designs that mark our change into an influencing organisation concerned with all cross-border traffic enforcement, not just decriminalised enforcement.

Please tell us what you think the SPARKS Network logo should be. Click here to take the survey.

About SPARKS

The SPARKS Network is an initiative that enables local authorities in the UK and EU member states to collaborate in resolving the issue of cross-border enforcement of civil traffic contraventions.

Our objective is for traffic enforcement to be equally effective against all vehicles irrespective of nationality. Aims include identifying legislative solutions, increasing awareness of the issues within government, working with local authorities to seek common solutions and gathering data to build a coherent picture of the size and impact of the issue.

Find out more about SPARKS

Legal Disclaimer

The SPARKS Network works hard to ensure that information on our websites are up-to-date and accurate and that applications function correctly.

Our terms and conditions

Data Privacy

The SPARKS Network will treat any personal information that you provide to us in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

We will not share any of your personal information with third parties unless it is in response to a lawful request for information such as a court order, witness summons, or complaint from a government authority. Your personal information will also not be sold to third parties.

Privacy policy

Feedback

We welcome your views on this ezine, which should be addressed to the editor Jo Ann Sweeney at jo.ann@sweeneyuk.com