Crackdown on ‘rogue’ parking firms launched

03 September 2009

The Government has signalled its intention to crack down on ‘rogue’ parking firms, with the introduction of new rules to limit access to driver data.

Transport minister, Sadiq Khan, has announced that private companies will now need to sign up to an accredited trade association, in order to request vehicle keepers’ details from the DVLA.

Currently, firms can request the information to issue penalty notices for drivers who have illegally parked on private land.

The move is part of the Department for Transport’s broader action plan to overhaul the rules governing parking on private land, which is set to be published in the autumn.

Mr Khan said he would not tolerate ‘unscrupulous’ firms which break the law by overcharging motorists. ‘We want a fair system that is clearly communicated, with an independent complaints procedure. In order to achieve this, we will be publishing later this year a cross-government action plan which will help us protect motorists and put a stop to the unacceptable behaviour of cowboy clampers and rogue parking firms,’ he said.

Kelvin Reynolds, technical director of the British Parking Association (BPA), welcomed the announcement, saying the Government had closed a loophole, which signalled a ‘good first step towards better regulation and increased fairness for everyone’.

Reynolds added that, as the UK parking industry’s only accredited trade association, the BPA would endorse the move with a new code – set to be published in October. Norman Baker, Lib Dem transport spokesman, welcomed the move but said it was long overdue.

‘It’s absolutely right that the Government should defend motorists more than they have been doing so far. My only issue is whether the standards will be rigorous enough and policed properly,’ he told Surveyor.

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