Private parking companies are updating their code after a court case highlighted issues with the five-minute payment rule for drivers
Derby: So, it looks like private parking companies are stepping up their game after a driver got taken to court for taking too long to pay. They’re now promising to update their code of conduct. This all started when Rosey Hudson faced a hefty bill because she couldn’t pay within five minutes due to a poor mobile signal.
The British Parking Association and the International Parking Community are teaming up to make sure their rules are fairer for drivers. They want to protect those who might struggle to pay quickly. It’s about time, right?
There’s been a lot of chatter about how confusing and misleading parking signs can be. Plus, drivers are getting hit with tons of tickets every day. It’s a real headache! In fact, recent stats show that private companies are dishing out over 41,000 tickets daily in the UK.
Between July and September 2024, a whopping 3.8 million tickets were issued. That’s a lot of cash for drivers, with fines reaching up to £100 each. It’s estimated that drivers could be shelling out around £4.1 million a day. Ouch!
Back in 2019, there was a bill to create a government-backed code for these companies, but it got pulled after some legal pushback. The original plan aimed to cut ticket caps and improve the appeals process, but it seems like we’re still waiting for real change.
Now, with the new panel in place, the BPA and IPC are hoping to clean up their act. They want to show that they’re serious about making things better for drivers. It’s a step in the right direction, but let’s see if it actually leads to real improvements.
RAC’s Rod Dennis pointed out that the fact they’re already reviewing their code shows it’s not working for drivers. He’s calling for a proper Private Parking Code of Practice to finally get things sorted out. Fingers crossed that this leads to a fairer system for everyone!
