THIS week a new parking code has been lunched to make it ‘fairer’ for drivers.
About time, I hear you fume – but things aren’t all they appear.
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The new catchily named ‘Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice’ is the parking industry’s own code and appeals process and not the government’s.
Drivers will get a ten-minute grace period, a £100 cap on tickets and a new Appeals Charter.
But this is a code written by the parking industry and adjudicated by the parking industry.
Efforts by MPs to give drivers more protection – notably Sir Greg Knight’s Private Parking (Regulator) Bill, which gained Royal Assent in 2019 – were legally challenged by the parking industry.
Because of those challenges Sir Greg Knight’s tougher code didn’t make the cut.
The RAC said: “We’re flabbergasted that the British Parking Association and International Parking Community have suddenly introduced their own ‘Private Parking Code’ after doing all they can over the last five years to prevent the official Government Code, created by an Act of Parliament coming into force”.
I’m flabbergasted too.
Because parking in Britain is out of control with drivers being hit with 30,000 fines every day.
Last year councils made a profit of £923 million with revenues hitting £1.84 billion.
Four of Britain’s largest airports made £570 million.
On private land, 11 million parking fines were handed out by operators in 2023 – the highest number ever recorded.
Parking in Britain today has nothing to do with traffic flows or safer roads and is all about cold, hard cash.
Matey parking company websites use phrases like ‘unlock revenue streams’, ‘increase revenue’ and ‘increase turnover’.
One has published a ‘Maximizing Parking Revenue Guide.’
The IPC says that ‘Demand over the years has created the need for more enforcement where parking is not allowed, such as residential streets, loading bays and in and around places like airports.’
Nobody disagrees with that – but it’s the industry’s zeal, commercialism, pursuit of profit and complication for consumers that’s the issue.
Challenging a ticket is as easy as picking up spilt mercury with your bare hands. Most of us just pay up.
Understanding the county-wide differing signage, wording, terms and conditions is like learning three languages.
But get it wrong – or can’t afford to pay – and you could face bailiffs who could trash your credit rating and seize your possessions.
Quentin’s top tips to fight fines
By Quentin Willson
Parking companies and enforcement officers do make mistakes.
And some are simply over-zealous.
Protecting yourself from a misapplied PCN can save lots of tears, and money, later.
Here are some simple steps to guard against a parking
nightmare:
- Download parking apps like RingGo. They’re simple, quick to use and don’t need coins.
- Always check that you’re parked within the borders of the white or yellow lines.
- Check timings on signs. Double yellows mean no parking, but single yellows can have different timings depending on location.
- Don’t assume you’re familiar with timings as they can vary.
- Set a timer on your ‘phone for when you need to leave. Some apps provide a timing countdown for you.
- Take pictures of any signage, how your car is positioned and how close it is to yellow lines or space markings.
- Keep any payment tickets and note the time you parked and when you left.
- If you need to display a ticket in your car, make sure it’s clear to see and the right way round.
- If you need to input your registration number, make sure its correct and don’t get numbers or digits wrong.
- If you get a PCN that you think is unfair, appeal straight away. That way you’ll still be entitled to the 50% discount if you have to pay up.
- Make copies of any appeal letters, evidence or witness statements. Include any mitigating circumstances like illness or breakdowns.
- Don’t leave an appeal or payment for long. Costs can spiral into the hundreds and could affect your credit rating or worse
But as well damaging the mental health and credit ratings of British drivers, over-zealous parking enforcement is threatening our high streets and becoming a drag on growth.
Billions that could be spent in struggling local shops is being funnelled into parking company and council coffers.
Business and retail bosses claim parking enforcement is forcing shoppers away from high streets and into retail parks where parking is free.
That a billion-pound industry has such little official oversight, and governance is something that should worry us all, not least the new government.
I want to see Sir Greg Knight’s parking bill finally put into action.
The RAC also wants a much tougher code. Simon Williams, Head of Policy told me: “The RAC wants lower PCN charges that are proportionate to the offence.
“£100 cap for a simple parking transgression is far too much.”
We need sanctions with teeth so operators who break the rules are legally prevented from issuing any further parking tickets.
And a genuinely independent government appeals process along with a cap on debt recovery fees.’
I absolutely and wholeheartedly agree.
It’s high time we caged Britain’s out-of-control parking monster and for the Government to make parking our cars and vans fairer, easier and less complicated for all.
