Private firms hit drivers with 8.6m parking tickets
MOTORISTS were given a record 8.6 million parking tickets by firms in 12 months – an “eye-watering” total, said RAC chiefs.
The rate of penalties was 23,000 a day from April 2021 to last March, according to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency data.
This was a rise of more than 50 per cent on four years earlier.
Ministers last month withdrew a long-awaited code of practice aimed at eradicating some of the sector’s worst actions, following a legal challenge by parking companies.
The figures show the times firms obtained records from the DVLA to chase vehicle owners for alleged infringements in private car parks such as at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service areas.
Each ticket can cost owners up to £100.
The total issued in the last financial year beat the record 8.4 million in 2019-20.
Steve Gooding, inset left, director of motoring research charity the RAC
Foundation, said more firms were entering the market to “demand more penalty payments” at the same time the sector was “pressing Government to water down its long-awaited reforms.
“We would hope that these eyewatering numbers will stiffen ministers’ resolve to stick to their guns and get their much-needed code of practice and caps on charges in place pronto.” Parking outfits have been accused of using misleading signage, of aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees.
The code of practice, due in 2024, would halve a cap on some offences to £50. The withdrawal pending a review of charges could lead to a further delay in its implementation.
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesman said: “We’re determined to end rip-off parking practices, and it’s very disappointing that some in the parking industry are resisting this.
“We will continue to work with industry and consumer groups to introduce our new Parking Code of Practice as quickly as possible.”
Some 177 parking firms asked for car owner records in the year, up from 151 in the previous 12 months. ParkingEye, the biggest buyer, made 1.8 million requests. The DVLA charges firms £2.50 for each file to cover the cost of providing the data.