Ministers have promised motorists greater protections against ‘bogus’ parking fines after new measures to clamp down on ‘rogue’ private parking firms became law.
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act, which received Royal Assent on Friday (15 March), originated as a private members’ Bill put forward by Sir Greg Knight, Conservative MP for East Yorkshire
It creates a new independent appeals service, which gives drivers greater support to challenge ‘unjustified’ parking tickets, officials said.
All private parking operators will also have to follow a new industry backed code of practice.
Government officials said the code of practice will ensure parking is ‘consistent, transparent and easier to understand’.
Private parking firms breaching the code could be barred from obtaining motorists’ information from the DVLA to enforce tickets.
British Parking Association (BPA) chief executive Andrew Pester said the Act will 'deliver our call for a single standard setting body, single code of practice and a single independent appeals service'.
‘This framework will enable greater consistency and consumer confidence. As a not-for-profit association we will continue to work closely with government and others, including consumer groups, to help develop a single code of practice that provides a fair outcome for motorists, landowners and parking operators alike.’
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: ‘Sir Greg is to be congratulated for his success in uniting MPs and peers alike to deliver the Parking (Code of Practice) Act the private parking industry so clearly needs.
'The Act will tackle an issue which our figures show affects millions of motorists each year. We look forward to supporting local government minister Rishi Sunak as he now moves to put in place the code of practice, appeals and scrutiny mechanisms that the Act provides.'
This year, the BPA's Parkex, Europe's largest dedicated parking event is co-located with Traffex at the NEC Birmingham from 2-4 April,
Parkex is the place to go to see first-hand all the most innovative parking technologies available today and where the sector comes together to find solutions to the latest parking issues, exchange best practice knowledge and hear from the key stakeholders in this ever-changing sector.
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
