According to data from the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency, between April 2021 and March 2022, the average number of parking tickets issued per day reached 23,000. (DVLA).
In just one year, private firms have issued a record 8.6 million parking tickets to British motorists.
The Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency reports that between April 2021 and March 2022. An average of 23,000 parking tickets were issued (DVLA).
This is 50 percent higher than it was four years ago.
Following a legal challenge by parking companies. The government withdrew a long-awaited code of practice intended to eradicate some of the sector’s worst practices a month ago.
Steve Gooding, director of the motoring research charity RAC Foundation, stated that the “eye-popping” number of tickets issued demonstrates that ministers must “stick to their guns”.
The figures represent the number of times companies obtained records from the DVLA. This was to pursue car owners for alleged violations in private car parks. Such as shopping centres, leisure facilities, and motorway service areas.
Tickets can cost motorists up to £100.
Private parking companies have been accused of employing unclear and deceptive signage. As well as aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees.
Before 2024, the code of conduct stipulated that the maximum fine for certain parking violations would be halved to £50.
However, the withdrawal pending a review of fees may cause a further delay in its implementation.
A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities stated: “It’s extremely disappointing that some in the parking industry are resisting our efforts to end parking scams”.
“We will continue to collaborate with industry and consumer groups to swiftly implement our new Parking Code of Practice.”
In the year ending in March, 177 parking management companies requested car owner records, an increase of 151 over the previous year.
With 1.8 million records, ParkingEye was the largest purchaser in the previous year.
Mr. Gooding noted that more companies are entering the market to “demand higher fines from motorists”. The industry is simultaneously “putting pressure on the government to water down long-awaited reforms.”
He proceeded: “A cynic might suspect that the industry is expanding because it is confident it can water down the final changes to the point where they have little effect on its operations”.
“We hope that these eye-popping numbers will strengthen ministers’ resolve to stick to their principles and implement their much-needed code of practice and fee caps as soon as possible”.
The DVLA charges private companies £2.50 per record, claiming that its fees cover the cost of providing the information and that it does not profit from the transaction.
