Ministers ‘bending the knee' to private parking firms
The Government has published its plans for a legislation-backed code of practice for private parking companies, in a bid to make the system fairer for drivers.
Alex Norris, the local growth minister, pledged that the new rules, now out for consultation, will 'tackle misleading tactics and confusing processes'.
It comes after the previous government attempted to crack down on 'rogue' parking operators by introducing a bill to establish a code in 2019.
Draft legislation would have meant that by 2025, fines would have been capped at £50 in most areas outside London, apart from in the cases of more serious breaches.
But a successful legal challenge by private parking companies meant the government withdrew the legislation in the summer of 2022.
The new draft code of conduct maintains the £100 cap, and retains the debt recovery charge, which is currently capped at £70.
The AA called on drivers to get in touch with the Government with their concerns, so that ministers will 'do more to help innocent drivers'.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: 'This long-awaited consultation will not please drivers and suggests that the Government is bending the knee to the private parking industry.
'A higher cap of £100 compared to the original plans of £50, the retention of debt recovery fees, and the inclusion of a £20 so-called 'mitigation' charge does little to offer protection for drivers.'
Simon Williams, of the RAC, said drivers 'desperately need' a government-backed private parking code of practice, but it must have 'sufficient teeth to make a real difference'.
Analysis by the PA news agency found that drivers were handed a record 14.4 million parking tickets by private companies in the year ending March 2025.
It represented a 13 per cent increase from the 12.8 million during the previous 12 months, and more than double the 6.8 million in 2018-2019.
The new draft guidance will tighten up the appeals process, so that motorists who breached parking rules in emergency situations, such as breakdowns or sudden illness, are not fined.
It also aims to create stricter punishments for operators who are not up to industry standards.
Mr Norris said: 'At present, operators can avoid sanctions for poor practice, leaving motorists vulnerable to unfair or incorrect charges.
'The new compliance framework will ensure accountability. Under proposals, operators who breach the Code may lose access to DVLA data required to issue parking charges.'
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