Drivers receive 36,000 fines every day from private companies
- More than 3.3 million parking fines were issued between July and September
- Since each ticket can cost up to £100, this could cost drivers more than £3.6 per day
Motorists are hit with almost 36,000 parking fines every day by private companies, figures show.
More than 3.3 million tickets were handed out between July and September, according to analysis by the PA news agency and the RAC Foundation.
This figure is up 16 percent from 2.9 million in the same period last year – and represents a record daily average of 35,960. Each ticket can cost up to £100, meaning the total cost to drivers could be almost £3.6 million per day.
Private parking companies have been accused of using misleading and confusing signage, aggressive collections and unreasonable rates.
A long-awaited code of practice aimed at rooting out some of the sector's worst behavior was due to be introduced after legislation was passed by Parliament in March 2019.
Motorists are hit with almost 36,000 parking fines every day by private companies, figures show (Stock Image)
The code – which was presented to Parliament in February 2022 and should come into force at the end of 2023 – said some caps should be halved to £50.
It was withdrawn by the government in June 2022 after a legal challenge by parking companies.
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: 'We are all hoping for good things in 2024, but those perhaps most looking forward to a Happy New Year are the large group of parking companies operating on private land.
'This March marks five years since a law was passed to… better regulate the private parking sector, but even now we don't know when it will be introduced.
'This glacial pace has been a source of enormous frustration for the millions of motorists who have been severely punished for alleged offenses in private car parks and for all the MPs who, at the time the legislation was being debated, were queuing to tell Parliament about the parking problems. horror stories reported by voters.”
According to analysis by the PA news agency and the RAC Foundation, more than 3.3 million tickets were handed out between July and September (Stock Image)
A call for evidence on the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) code of practice ended on October 8.
A spokesperson for the British Parking Association, which represents parking operators, said: 'Enforcement is a key element of effective parking management, which means careless and selfish drivers do not block spaces, park in blue badge zones or cause a nuisance to motorists. that park with the necessary care and attention.'
The analysis was based on the amount of data companies had purchased from the DVLA to allow them to pursue drivers, at a cost of £2.50 each time. The agency says the fees are intended to cover costs and not to generate profits.
About 178 companies requested data in the three months to the end of September. ParkingEye topped the list, with 573,000 records. The DLUHC was contacted for a response.