New legal protections from rogue parking firms

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed that the government will support new legislation to protect drivers from unscrupulous private parking operators.

Drivers are increasingly complaining of inconsistent practices, substandard signage, confusing appeals processes and intimidating payment letters, with nearly 10,000 people approaching the Citizen’s Advice Bureau for advice on private parking tickets last year. Additionally, parking firms are issuing almost 13 times more tickets than a decade ago.

Therefore, a stringent new Code of Practice will be developed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in conjunction with motorists groups and other experts. Those ignoring the rules will then be blocked from accessing driver data and issuing fines, effectively forcing them out of the industry.

Javid said: “For too long drivers have suffered from unjust fines at the hands of dodgy parking firms. We need a fairer, clearer and more consistent system that brings the small minority of unscrupulous operators in line with those who are behaving appropriately. That is why government is putting the brakes on these rogue operators and backing new laws that will put a stop to aggressive behaviour and provide a simpler way for drivers to appeal fines.”