Burnham announces new rules to protect drivers from private parking charges

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 22:50 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced new rules to protect drivers from harsh private parking charges, including a five-minute grace period to decide whether to park.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced new rules for private car parks across England, Scotland and Wales, designed to protect drivers from harsh parking charges. The changes come after repeated complaints that penalties issued by private providers were too harsh and left motorists unfairly penalised.

Under the new rules, drivers will be guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave after their parking session ends before facing a fine. Charges will be cancelled for issues beyond drivers' control, such as vehicle breakdowns or broken ticket machines, and for honest mistakes like entering the wrong vehicle registration or stopping to check directions. Maximum charges are capped at £20 on appeal for slips like forgetting a parking permit, with an overall freeze on maximum parking charges at £100.

Burnham said: 'Being a few minutes late back to your car or typing one digit of your numberplate wrong shouldn't end with a hefty fine landing on your doormat.' The RAC motoring group welcomed the changes as protection from poor practices by some companies. However, the consumer body Which? said the rules 'fall well short of what was needed' to help drivers fight back against private parking operators. Operators who do not comply risk losing access to DVLA data, making it harder to pursue charges. The new code of practice is due to be laid in parliament on Tuesday, with ministers aiming to bring it into force 'as soon as possible'.

How it is being reported

• Andy Burnham promises to end rip-off parking charges with new rules to challenge finesMotorists in England, Scotland and Wales will be given 10 minutes to leave car parks without facing a penalty once their session ends under a new private parking code of practiceThe Mirror · 19 Oct, 22:32
• All the new parking rules being introduced to challenge 'rip-off' chargesMotorists will receive fresh protections to dispute unreasonable private parking charges , including a guaranteed five-minute decision period upon arrival, under new plans unveiled by the Government.The Independent · 19 Oct, 22:30
• Andy Burnham outlines new rules to outlaw ‘rip-off’ private parking finesDrivers to get five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave after their session ends Drivers will get a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave after their parking session ends before they face a fine under new rules for private car parks that Andy Burnham said were designed to outlaw “rip-off” charges. In the latest in a series of “everyday fixes” to ease the cost of living and give consumers a “fairer” deal, the prime minister said a new official code of practice for the industry meant motorists in England, Scotland and Wales would enjoy…Guardian World · 19 Oct, 22:30
• Burnham vows end to 'rip-off parking charges' under new rulesPenalties are seen as too harsh on motorists who are penalised for parking on private land.BBC News · 19 Oct, 22:30

In this story: Andy Burnham · RAC · Which? · England · Scotland · Wales

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