The Department for Transport has made Statutory Instrument 2025/1181, laid before Parliament on 13 November 2025 and commencing on 9 December 2025. The Order extends to England and Wales and consolidates civil powers across parking, bus lanes and moving‑traffic enforcement in specified areas.
For East Sussex County Council, the Order removes residual exclusions in Hastings and Lewes so the authority’s civil enforcement area and special enforcement area now cover those districts in full. This tidies up legacy carve‑outs and aligns on‑street enforcement across the county. East Sussex previously adopted civil parking enforcement in Hastings (1999) and Lewes (2004).
The instrument also amends the Bus Lane Contraventions (Approved Local Authorities) (England) Order 2005 to add parts of Cambridgeshire County Council’s area as a civil enforcement area for bus lane contraventions. The designation mirrors existing parking enforcement boundaries, enabling Cambridgeshire to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for bus lane breaches under the Transport Act 2000 framework as updated.
Separately, the Secretary of State designates parts of eight authorities as civil enforcement areas for moving traffic: Brighton & Hove, Calderdale, Cornwall, Dorset, Kirklees, Knowsley, Milton Keynes and Slough. Each designation sits within areas already approved for parking enforcement, providing a common boundary for day‑to‑day operations.
In practice, moving‑traffic enforcement under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 covers contraventions such as banned turns, no‑entry and box junction restrictions. Enforcement outside London relies on approved devices, evidential records and prescribed notices set by the 2022 general provisions and approved devices regulations.
Motorists retain statutory routes to challenge PCNs. Representations to the enforcing authority come first; if rejected, appeals for authorities outside London go to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal, with London cases heard by London Tribunals. GOV.UK sets out the steps and deadlines for appeals.
Financial governance remains defined in law. Under section 88 of the Traffic Management Act 2004, authorities must keep dedicated accounts for civil enforcement income and expenditure, and apply any surplus to transport‑related purposes only.
From 9 December 2025, designated authorities may begin civil enforcement once operational prerequisites are in place, including certified camera systems and compliant notice processes under the 2022 regulations. Authorities typically publish local notices and scheme details before activation.
For transport leads and fleet operators, the immediate actions are procedural: check forthcoming local traffic orders, signage changes and camera locations; refresh driver briefings on banned turns and bus lanes; and review budgets for PCNs during the bedding‑in period. The Order’s intent is consistent administration rather than new offences, but compliance expectations will tighten.