New parking rule is announced across UK in crackdown on ‘rip-off’ fines – as 16.9MILLION tickets handed out in a year

DRIVERS are set to be granted brand-new protections to challenge unfair and “rip-off” private parking charges. Parking tickets were handed out to a record 16.9million Brits last year – an increase of 2.5million from the year before. The Government has announced that it will introduce a new private parking code of practice – protecting Brits from excessive fees and penalties. Under the code of practice, motorists will now be given 10 minutes to leave car parks before facing a penalty fee, as well as a guaranteed five-minute period to decide whether to park. Drivers can also contest parking charges issued for honest mistakes or during emergencies – such as stopping to check directions, vehicle breakdowns, medical issues, or out-of-order ticket machines. For motorists who forget parking permits, enter the wrong registration, or forget to confirm it at a parking machine, a maximum charge of £20 will be issued on appeal. Read more Motors News Prime Minister Andy Burnham praised the change, saying: “Being a few minutes late back to your car or typing one digit of your numberplate wrong shouldn’t end with a hefty fine landing on your doormat. “These charges leave people feeling ripped off and out of pocket, so I’m putting a stop to them. “We are introducing clearer rules, longer grace periods and lower charges for genuine mistakes, while going after the deliberate scams that rip drivers off.” Last year, a record 16.9million parking tickets were issued by private businesses, according to the RAC Foundation – an increase of 14.4million from the year before. Most read in Motors If every ticket is priced up to £100, the total cost to drivers could be as much as £4.6million every single day. Under the new code, private parking charges will be frozen at a maximum of £100, with any companies not complying at risk of losing access to DVLA data – the information used to pursue parking charges. The new private parking code of practice will be introduced throughout England, Scotland and Wales, overseen by a fully independent scrutiny and oversight board. Any private operator must report data on the charges they issue and how appeals are handled to the board where it will be scrutinised. Under the new guidance, the Government will also crackdown on second-hand car dealers winding back mileage clocks on cars. Despite this being illegal already, selling a “clocked car” will also be added to the official list of banned practices . RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “We’ve long called for the banning of debt recovery fees being added on top of parking charge notices (PCNs) and a single independent appeals body to replace the two industry-run ones, but neither have been included, which is disappointing. “That said, the fact we finally have a code seven years on from the Private Parking Code of Practice Act becoming law is positive. “Car park management companies will now have to conform to a new set of rules or risk losing access to the DVLA’s database which they depend on to issue PCNs to drivers. “This will hopefully prevent many drivers wrongly being issued tickets in the first place.” “While this isn’t quite the Christmas present we wanted for drivers, it should hopefully save many the stress of having to challenge unfair tickets.” Sue Davies, Which? Head of consumer rights policy, said: “We hear almost every day from motorists left frustrated and bewildered while battling extortionate parking charges from private companies. “These plans are long overdue, but look like they fall well short of what’s needed to help drivers fight back against the private parking cowboys. “It is particularly concerning that the government has shied away from a £50 price cap to prevent disproportionate charges and an independent appeals body that could rein in the industry’s worst practices. “The government has also failed to address widely misused debt recovery fees, which are regularly added without motorists’ knowledge and push unfair charges even higher. “The parking industry must not be allowed to continue marking its own homework. There need to be clear, independent standards that all parking operators must meet that are backed up by an impartial appeals process.” The Government is yet to confirm when the new driving rules will officially come into force.