Clampers cause outrage
Investigation finds enforcer waiting for parking infringers on separate nights
Clampers are lying in wait to pounce on motorists parking in the wrong spot within minutes, demanding “disproportionate” fees to free drivers’ wheels.
Some clampers are not signed up to a voluntary code of conduct drawn up by the Automobile Association which allows a 10-minute grace period for drivers before their cars are targeted.
In a Herald investigation, a parking enforcer for Amalgamated Car Parking Services was seen sitting for hours in an unmarked car on Auckland’s Dominion Rd on three evenings during two weeks waiting for unsuspecting motorists to park where they shouldn’t.
At least eight cars were clamped at the set of privately owned car parks next to the Countdown supermarket.
Drivers were forced to pay $150 onthe-spot fines to have their vehicle released.
In one case caught on video by the Herald, a driver parks to pick up takeaways. Our timer shows that at the one-minute 40-second mark, the parking enforcer exits his own car. He clamps the man’s car, returns to his own vehicle and is approached by the driver who pays to have the clamp released. The whole process takes less than five minutes.
In another case, a woman broke down in tears and others tried to protest in vain, with the clamper instead threatening to tow their car at nearly double the cost if the fee wasn’t paid immediately.
The landlord for 126 Valley Rd is Eddie Li, who said he had arranged for the car parks to be managed on behalf of the businesses which leased his land.
Amalgamated boss Craig Burrows said wheel clamping was a legitimate way to enforce parking rules and the only way to make sure people paid if they broke those rules.
“If people have parked in a space where they’re not supposed to then ... there’s going to be enforcement made,” he said.
“We’re always the baddies. At the end of the day, the person’s breaking the rules.”
Amalgamated has not signed up to the industry code of practice, which has been signed by three companies.
A Countdown spokesman told the Herald the reserved section of the car park was not owned with the supermarket, it just happened to share the same space. Consumer NZ labelled the practice “pure revenuecollecting”. “The model is based on catching people, not providing parking,” said chief executive Sue Chetwin. “Once you’ve been clamped, you’re in a . . . vulnerable situation because you’ve got to get your car back somehow,” Chetwin said. “You have to pay [and] argue later.” Automobile Association spokesman Mark Stockdale said that while it was a driver’s responsibility to check for signs they were not parking where they shouldn’t, wheel clamping was out of proportion.
“Even if you did ignore the rules, clamping for parking for five minutes is disproportionate.”
In 2015 the code of practice for parking enforcement on private land was drawn up by stakeholders in the parking enforcement industry, including the AA, Consumer NZ and representatives from the industry.
As well as the 10-minute grace period, the code states clamping should only be used as a last resort and staff must not use threatening language or behaviour.
Wheel clamping is not illegal on private property in New Zealand.
However, the code said breach notices should be issued in the first instance.
Stockdale said if all parking enforcers followed the rules of the code clamping wouldn’t be an issue.