A Moray councillor wants parking on double yellow lines outside schools to carry “almost as much stigma as drink driving”.
Paula Coy, who represents the Elgin City North ward, has grown increasingly frustrated with antisocial motorists at her daughter’s primary school in the town.
During a meeting of the authority’s police and fire services committee, she tackled roads police chiefs on the matter and was outspoken in her views.
Mrs Coy said: “It is one of my pet peeves, I personally would like to see parking on double yellow lines outside schools become almost as much of a stigma as drink-driving.
“I believe it is dangerous for the very children that these people are picking up.
“This should be seen as really anti-social, so that people give those responsible those stinking looks.”
The councillor said she was heartened by recent patrols around New Elgin Primary School – which her daughter attends – and which saw several drivers being told off for parking dangerously.
But she said she was fearful of bad habits “creeping back in” when there was no longer a police presence at the school.
Inspector Neil Morrison, of the north-east division’s road policing unit, confirmed that protecting children from harm around schools was a “key focus” for his team.
He said: “Clearly there should be a stigma against irresponsible parking, but some people still choose to do it and it is for us to address that through education and enforcement.
“Road safety is everybody’s responsibility and the public have the responsibility upon themselves to take it seriously.”
Chief Superintendent Campbell Thomson, however, stressed that his officers were “not traffic wardens” and had to prioritise their activities.
He added: “ Our priorities are wide-ranging as police officers, and I have to be honest in saying that we are not traffic wardens.
“But if reports of dangerous parking are received, then they will be picked up and acted upon.”
