As of today, drivers facing fines for parking violations are being informed about new regulations that offer them a better chance of appealing. Good Morning Britain highlighted the introduction

of a new code of practice for private parking companies, effective from October.

The absence of a government-mandated code of practice until now has resulted in what some describe as a 'wild west' scenario, with private firms issuing over 35,000 parking tickets to drivers daily. An analysis by the RAC Foundation revealed that private parking companies issued 9.7 million tickets between April and December last year, averaging around 35,300 tickets per day.

Previously promised measures to curb this trend were withdrawn in 2022 due to legal threats from the private parking industry. However, it has now been announced that new regulations will be implemented in October. The British Parking Association's code of practice includes provisions for consistent signage, a 10-minute grace period for leaving, and standardized appeal procedures.

GMB correspondent Nick Dixon highlighted the confusion drivers often face due to inconsistent signage and malfunctioning ticket machines. The new rules aim to address these issues by providing a grace period for parking and leaving, ensuring consistent signage across private car parks, and establishing a single set of appeal rules to enhance transparency and fairness for motorists.

Each parking ticket can cost drivers up to £100, resulting in a potential daily loss of millions of pounds for motorists. The withdrawal of promised regulatory measures in 2022 left drivers feeling disappointed, as private parking operators continued to employ misleading signs and aggressive debt collection tactics.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Bill, which aimed to regulate private parking operators, faced opposition from the industry, leading to its withdrawal after just six months. However, with the new regulations in place, private parking operators failing to comply risk expulsion from the British Parking Association, affecting their access to essential services like tracking vehicle keeper data.

Andrew Pester, Chief Executive of the British Parking Association, hailed the implementation of the industry-wide code of practice as a significant milestone towards achieving fairer and more consistent parking standards. The BPA's new rules are designed to align with the government's original plan and will be updated periodically to ensure effectiveness. Photo by Mike White, Wikimedia commons.