A new package of measures announced on 7 February 2022 will protect drivers from unfair and extortionate charges, with a new Code of Practice to help keep cowboy private parking firms in check.

The Government’s Parking Code of Practice will see parking fines cut by up to 50% in the majority of cases, saving motorists millions of pounds each year.

Fresh measures proposed in the new Code and Framework include the creation of a mandatory single Appeals Service and Appeals Charter for motorists to turn to if they are unfairly fined. Under options set out in the Appeals Charter, motorists could be able to appeal their fine and see it cancelled entirely if:

• they have a mitigating reason for overstaying their parking ticket such as their vehicle breaking down
• they have made a genuine innocent error, like keying in a digit in their number plate incorrectly
• they have a valid ticket, permit or Blue Badge but failed to display it correctly

The Code also states:

• New parking charge levels which will mirror the local authority system for publicly accessible car parks, halving parking charges for millions of motorists to £50. It will keep the current £100 cap in some circumstances such as abusing Blue Badge bays or if a motorist is trespassing on private land.
• Motorists will be offered a 50% discount if they pay within 14 days.
• Parking debt collectors will be banned from adding additional excess fees to the level of the parking charge, currently as much as £70.
• A compulsory 10-minute grace periods before firms can issue a late fine.
• A compulsory 5-minute cooling-off period in which a motorist can consider the terms and conditions and change their mind about parking.
• A crackdown on parking firms using aggressive or pseudo-legal language to intimidate motorists into paying fines.
• A requirement for parking firms to clearly display pricing and terms and conditions of parking, contact details and how to appeal a charge.

The new Code of Practice builds on action the Government has already taken to tackle rogue private parking firms, including banning wheel clamping and towing and stopping over-zealous parking enforcement by councils. These new measures will be a major boost to millions of motorists in England, Scotland and Wales and will help to draw people back to their local high streets by eliminating the fear of being unfairly caught out. For any more information on the Government’s new package of measures to protect millions of drivers from unfair and extortionate charges, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-clamps-down-on-rogue-parking-firms-with-new-code-of-practice.