Motorists warned of new driving law coming in January which sees rulebreakers fined £100  - 'Disgrace'

The enforcement action follows the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, which introduced statutory legislation for a national ban on these parking offences.

The measures aim to ensure pavements remain clear for pedestrians, particularly benefiting those using wheelchairs, walking aids, or pushing prams.

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Local authorities have been granted powers to enforce these new restrictions through the Parking Prohibitions (Enforcement and Accounts) (Scotland) (Regulations) 2023, which was enacted last December.

Motorists who pay the £100 fine within 14 days will receive a 50 per cent discount, reducing the fine to £50. However, those who delay payment risk seeing the penalty increase to £150 if a Charge Certificate is issued.

These charges align with existing parking penalties currently issued for other offences within the region.

Any income generated from the fines will contribute to the operational costs of the Parking Unit, which is experiencing funding pressures.

The council has emphasised that the primary aim of the new enforcements it to make pavements safer rather than generate revenue.

Councillor Robert Brown said: "We have a difficult balancing act here there are areas where on-street parking is very restricted, but our priority must be to ensure people can walk safely on pavements without being forced onto roads.

"We know this can be a huge issue for people who use wheelchairs or walking aids, people with visual impairments and for parents using prams or buggies. It's also important to emphasise that we are enforcing Parliamentary legislation aimed at making pavements safer."

The council initially adopted a soft approach to enforcement, placing warning signs on vehicles to inform drivers about the upcoming fines.

But the upcoming fines have been met with mixed views from drivers with one person stating, “it's a disgrace”.

The person shared on social media: “If they don't want you to park on the kerb every road should be wide enough for parked cars on both side of the road and two lanes of moving traffic without hold ups... but that can't happen.

“Angus road bus route if cars on both sides even on kerb only one vehicle can get up or down... It's a let's take money off people who work hard to have a car.”

Following 12 months of operational enforcement experience, the council said further consideration will be given to the need for formal exemptions or alternative measures.

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Another driver shared: “I understand it's difficult for car owners to park their cars when they don't have driveways, and the roads are not wide enough to park on the road.

“However, I am a wheelchair user and there have been times where I have had to go on the road to get pass cars. I've also come across cars that have parked in front of lowered pavements. The worst thing I deal with is the bins being left in the middle of pavements, sometimes making them impassable after the bin men had been.”

The Scottish Government guidance also added that exemptions to pavement parking prohibition "will not be the norm."