Campaigners are calling for a £50 cap on fines imposed by private parking companies, urging the government to take action. The Labour party is currently seeking input on a new legally enforceable code of conduct to regulate car park operators, following the abandonment of a previous effort by the Conservative government.
Concerns have been raised by motorists who feel they are being unfairly treated by parking operators, facing substantial fines and potential debt collection actions if they refuse to pay. Recent data from the RAC reveals that private parking firms issued a record 14.4 million tickets to drivers in the past year.
Government statistics show a significant rise in car park management companies requesting driver information from the DVLA to issue fines. The number has escalated from 1.9 million in 2012 to 8.4 million in 2019, and 12.8 million in 2024.
Although the parking industry introduced its own code of practice last year, which included measures like a 10-minute grace period and a £100 charge cap, it only applies to specific associations and some provisions will not be fully implemented until 2026.
Consumer advocacy group Which? is pushing for a maximum fine limit of £50 and clearer signage in parking lots to address driver frustrations with confusing regulations. They are also advocating for companies to consider special circumstances like medical emergencies or vehicle breakdowns when issuing fines, suggesting that penalties should be canceled rather than just reduced.
The government’s efforts to introduce a statutory parking code were halted due to legal challenges from parking firms. Which? is also criticizing the automatic imposition of debt recovery fees by parking companies, adding up to £70 to fines, and calling for a unified appeals service to facilitate challenges to wrongly issued fines.
Alex Norris MP emphasized the need for improved industry behavior to prevent motorists from facing excessive charges and escalating costs. Sue Davies of Which? highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by drivers due to inconsistent parking rules and the inadequacy of the industry’s self-regulated Code of Practice.
The British Parking Association expressed support for the government’s consultation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining deterrents to ensure fair parking practices. They argue that reducing fines could incentivize rule-breaking and undermine compliance among responsible motorists.