Latest news with #RoseyHudson
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
New government code of practice aims to stop unfair parking charges
The government has launched a consultation on a new code to stop people being "unfairly penalised" by private car park follows concerns raised by drivers including Rosey Hudson, who was asked to pay £1,906 for taking more than five minutes to pay in a car park in government said the new Private Parking Code of Practice "aims to create a fairer, more transparent private parking system".The British Parking Association, one of two trade associations that oversees the industry, has said it will work closely with the government throughout the consultation. Local growth minister and Nottingham North and Kimberley MP Alex Norris said: "From shopping on your local high street to visiting a loved one in hospital, parking is part of everyday life. But too many people are being unfairly penalised."That's why our code will tackle misleading tactics and confusing processes, bringing vital oversight and transparency to raise standards across the board."The previous government published a code of practice in February 2022 and it was due to come into effect by the end of it was withdrawn following legal challenges launched by several parking meant the private parking sector has been left to regulate itself, through two accredited trade associations called the British Parking Association (BPA) and International Parking Community (IPC). Car park operators, which are members of these associations, can obtain drivers' names and addresses from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and issue parking charge notices (PCNs) for allegedly breaching terms and has led to drivers being asked to pay hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds for infringements such as taking too long to pay, or keying in their vehicle registration plates government said its new measures would prevent charges caused by issues such as payment machine errors, accidental typos, or poor mobile the AA believes the government's proposals do not go far Cousens, head of roads policy, said: "This long-awaited consultation will not please drivers and suggests that government is bending the knee to the private parking industry."His concerns include a £100 cap on parking charges, which is higher than the £50 previously proposed."We urge all drivers to complete the consultation and submit their views and experiences when dealing with private parking firms," he said. Statistics published by the DVLA suggest private car park operators are issuing more PCNs than ever paid the DVLA for 12.8 million keeper details in the last financial year, which is a 673% increase since 2012."While this partly reflects more parking spaces, the current system lacks independent oversight and sufficient transparency," the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said."At present, operators can avoid sanctions for poor practice, leaving motorists vulnerable to unfair or incorrect charges. The new compliance framework will ensure accountability."Under the proposals, operators that breach the code may stop being able to get drivers' details from the DVLA. The eight-week consultation is due to close on 5 September and people can give their views BPA said it would work closely with the government throughout the consultation, but said the new code must allow for "proper enforcement"."Without proper enforcement, parking quickly becomes a free-for-all, with some people taking advantage at the expense of others," it said in a statement."When spaces are misused, it's often at the expense of those who need them most, such as disabled people, parents with young children and local residents."We believe parking systems must strike a balance: they should deter selfish and anti-social behaviour, but they must also be fair, proportionate, and transparent."
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
British motorists hit with parking fines every two seconds
Motorists are being hit with parking fines every two seconds, research reveals. Private parking firms issued 7.8 million fines between April and June last year – the highest on record, and equivalent to 43,000 a day, according to Churchill. The car insurer analysed requests sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by 193 firms over the three-month period. Private parking companies must obtain vehicle keeper records from the DVLA in order to issue a penalty. Councils, as well as private companies, are profiting from mass fines. Motorists paid out a record amount of £620m in parking fines to councils during the 2023-2024 financial year, as town halls hit drivers with 1,000 tickets every hour. The AA this week warned that punitively high charges for parking, designed to reduce the number of cars on the road, are 'speeding up the death of the high street'. The motoring body warned that rates above £5 an hour are putting people off visiting high street shops entirely. In a rare victory, motorists will have more time to pay for parking after the Government last month approved legislation to scrap the five-minute rule which saw drivers fined if they did not pay for using a private car park within five or 10 minutes. The decision was triggered by motorist, Rosey Hudson, who was taken to court last November by the operator of a car park in Derby for not paying her tickets within five minutes of arrival. Excel Parking demanded Ms Hudson pay £1,905.76 to clear nine outstanding penalty charge notices, which included a £70 'debt recovery' charge for each one, 8pc annual interest and £195 in court costs. Edmund King, president of the AA, said drivers were 'being taken for a ride' by parking firms. He said: 'These numbers are astonishing and excessive. The problem is many of the drivers who receive these tickets are worried about the hassle of appealing and debt collectors – even if they think they might be in the right and the parking companies are in the wrong. 'So they just pay up, because they don't want their credit record to be affected. Millions of drivers are being taken for a ride.' Mr King added: 'Another problem is that we still haven't got a fair appeals system. These figures suggest that many parking companies are just getting away with it as a recipe to print money.' Under current rules, appeals have to go through the parking companies first which critics have argued can be biased. Once an outcome has been made, the motorist can escalate it to an independent appeals body. Lisa Webb, legal expert at consumer website Which?, said: 'A parking charge notice or other privately issued ticket isn't a fine and can't be imposed on you – but a private company can pursue you through the courts for payment. 'So if you think the charge isn't correct or there are mitigating circumstances, such as ill health or vehicle breakdown, you may want to contest it. 'First, appeal to the car park operator and follow the operator's internal appeals process. If the company rejects your appeal, then you can appeal to an independent appeals system.' 'If the independent adjudicator agrees with you, the private parking charge will be cancelled. But if your appeal is refused, the company can carry on seeking payment and ultimately has the option of taking you to court.' The DVLA was approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Parking rules to change after 'five-minute fines'
Private parking rules are set to change to ensure motorists are not unfairly penalised if they do not pay within five minutes. The sector's code of practice was reviewed after the BBC reported on the case of Rosey Hudson, who was taken to court by Excel Parking over a £1,906 claim after taking longer than five minutes to pay at the Copeland Street car park in Derby due to poor signal on her phone. Her case was eventually dropped, with other motorists raising similar concerns and seeing their claims discontinued. Now the updated rules, to be brought in from Monday by the Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP), will ensure "motorists who face genuine difficulties in paying in a short timeframe are treated fairly". The British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC) previously announced it had set up the panel to review the code of practice, following coverage of Miss Hudson's case last year. The new code of practice will mean that drivers using private car parks, monitored by camera technology such as CCTV and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), will have a "safeguard" in place if they experience delays making payments. Under the change, if motorists pay before they leave ANPR-managed pay on entry car parks, regardless of whether they pay within five minutes, they should not receive a penalty notice. However, it "remains essential" for drivers to read signage carefully and follow the rules of the specific car park. And the updated rules only apply to sites where technology supports this change, and does not apply to council car parks and private sites without camera monitoring. IPC chief executive officer Will Hurley told the BBC the five-minute rule will end on 17 February. "From then, it will stop," he said. "We've put in place a panel that's reviewed this over the last month and we're making the change today because it is the right thing to do. "There's a safeguard now in those particular car parks where you go in and as long as you pay for parking, you won't receive a parking charge." Mr Hurley said people should not be charged for parking if a driver enters the car park, fails to find a space and then leaves. "It is crucial that there is a mechanism to identify and resolve issues quickly. I am pleased that the panel has acted swiftly to introduce safeguards for motorists," he added. Andrew Pester, chief executive of the BPA, added: "It is a real testament to the [panel] that this change has been implemented so efficiently. The parking sector is always striving to ensure it operates in the interest of compliant motorists and to ensure that parking is fairly managed for all." A group of MPs previously called on the government to introduce its own statutory code of practice that private car park operators must follow, adding that the private industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself. Miss Hudson is one of several people Excel Parking took to court over its five-minute payment rule. At the time, she said she was unable to pay while in the car park due to poor signal on her phone. She walked to where she could get connected and paid the full tariff every time she parked there, but was still repeatedly sent parking charge notices (PCNs). In December, Excel Parking dropped its case against her without explanation and did the same for Garry Kay, who parked at the same car park and was preparing to fight costs of £255. Meanwhile, last month a judge ordered the operator to pay a Peter Barton £19.50 in expenses after he took 19 minutes to pay because he could not find a suitable parking space. Miss Hudson, 31, told the BBC she was cautiously optimistic about the changes. "I am pleased because my hope, in speaking out about my case, was that something would change," she said. "I wasn't doing it just for me. There are lots of people in the same situation as me who don't push back and pay these fines just to get the companies off their backs. "They are being treated very unfairly by private parking firms, paying fines that are not reasonable. "I hope the changes proposed are meaningful, and I do think it should be in all private car parks, not just some." The government said it would make an announcement on plans for a statutory parking code of practice "in due course". A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry. "We know how much of an issue this is for drivers, which is why we will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible." By Caroline Lowbridge, BBC News A lot has happened in the two and a half months since the BBC spoke to Rosey Hudson. She originally contacted the BBC because she wanted to warn others about what was happening to her. She told us she was under a huge amount of stress as a result of legal proceedings by Excel Parking, and she didn't want others to go through the same. Miss Hudson's story struck a chord with other motorists. Hundreds of them contacted the BBC with their own stories of being issued with PCNs. The two trade associations for private car park operators also announced their intention to end the so-called five-minute payment rule, and set up a panel to oversee changes to the sector's own code of practice. This sounded promising but parking campaigners and some MPs remain sceptical. They believe the sector cannot regulate itself, adding the government needs to introduce a statutory code of practice. A government spokesperson told the BBC it will set out details on this "as soon as possible". Meanwhile, drivers are still being threatened with legal action as a result of Excel Parking's five-minute rule. Some are challenging the PCNs and winning when the cases are heard in court, but others are paying up due to fear, or to avoid the stress and hassle of legal proceedings. Excel Parking also remains insistent that Miss Hudson was in the wrong - despite its claim against her being discontinued. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Listen: Private parking: The story so far Parking firms should not regulate themselves - MPs 'Five-minute fine' prompts private car parks review Car park operator drops £1,906 'rip-off charge' Woman's £1,906 bill over five-minute parking rule British Parking Association International Parking Community Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Parking rules to change after 'five-minute fines'
Private parking rules are set to change to ensure motorists are not unfairly penalised if they do not pay within five minutes. The sector's code of practice was reviewed after the BBC reported on the case of Rosey Hudson, who was taken to court by Excel Parking over a £1,906 claim after taking longer than five minutes to pay at the Copeland Street car park in Derby. Her case was eventually dropped, with other motorists raising similar concerns and seeing their claims discontinued. Now the updated rules, to be brought in from Monday by the Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP), will ensure "motorists who face genuine difficulties in paying in a short timeframe are treated fairly". The British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC) previously announced it had set up the panel to review the code of practice, following coverage of Miss Hudson's case last year. The new code of practice will mean that drivers using private car parks, monitored by camera technology such as CCTV and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), will have a "safeguard" in place if they experience delays making payments. Under the change, if motorists pay before they leave ANPR-managed pay on entry car parks, regardless of whether they pay within five minutes, they should not receive a penalty notice. However, it "remains essential" for drivers to read signage carefully and follow the rules of the specific car park. And the updated rules only apply to sites where technology supports this change, and does not apply to council car parks and private sites without camera monitoring. IPC chief executive officer Will Hurley said: "It is crucial that there is a mechanism to identify and resolve issues quickly. I am pleased that the panel has acted swiftly to introduce safeguards for motorists." Andrew Pester, chief executive of the BPA, added: "It is a real testament to the [panel] that this change has been implemented so efficiently. The parking sector is always striving to ensure it operates in the interest of compliant motorists and to ensure that parking is fairly managed for all." A group of MPs previously called on the government to introduce its own statutory code of practice that private car park operators must follow, adding that the private industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself. Miss Hudson is one of several people Excel Parking took to court over its five-minute payment rule. At the time, she said she was unable to pay while in the car park due to poor signal on her phone. She walked to where she could get connected and paid the full tariff every time she parked there, but was still repeatedly sent parking charge notices (PCNs). In December, Excel Parking dropped its case against her without explanation and did the same for Garry Kay, who parked at the same car park and was preparing to fight costs of £255. Meanwhile, last month a judge ordered the operator to pay a Peter Barton £19.50 in expenses after he took 19 minutes to pay because he could not find a suitable parking space. Miss Hudson, 31, told the BBC she was cautiously optimistic about the changes. "I am pleased because my hope, in speaking out about my case, was that something would change," she said. "I wasn't doing it just for me. There are lots of people in the same situation as me who don't push back and pay these fines just to get the companies off their backs. "They are being treated very unfairly by private parking firms, paying fines that are not reasonable. "I hope the changes proposed are meaningful, and I do think it should be in all private car parks, not just some." The government said it would make an announcement on plans for a statutory parking code of practice "in due course". A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry. "We know how much of an issue this is for drivers, which is why we will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible." By Caroline Lowbridge, BBC News A lot has happened in the two and a half months since I spoke to Rosey Hudson. She originally contacted the BBC because she wanted to warn others about what was happening to her. She told us she was under a huge amount of stress as a result of legal proceedings by Excel Parking, and she didn't want others to go through the same. Miss Hudson's story struck a chord with other motorists. Hundreds of them contacted the BBC with their own stories of being issued with PCNs. The two trade associations for private car park operators also announced their intention to end the so-called five-minute payment rule, and set up a panel to oversee changes to the sector's own code of practice. This sounded promising but parking campaigners and some MPs remain sceptical. They believe the sector cannot regulate itself, adding the government needs to introduce a statutory code of practice. A government spokesperson told the BBC it will set out details on this "as soon as possible". Meanwhile, drivers are still being threatened with legal action as a result of Excel Parking's five-minute rule. Some are challenging the PCNs and winning when the cases are heard in court, but others are paying up due to fear, or to avoid the stress and hassle of legal proceedings. Excel Parking also remains insistent that Miss Hudson was in the wrong - despite its claim against her being discontinued. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Listen: Private parking: The story so far Parking firms should not regulate themselves - MPs 'Five-minute fine' prompts private car parks review Car park operator drops £1,906 'rip-off charge' Woman's £1,906 bill over five-minute parking rule British Parking Association International Parking Community Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Private parking rules to change after 'five-minute fines', sector confirms
Private parking rules are set to change to ensure motorists are not unfairly penalised if they do not pay within five sector's code of practice was reviewed after the BBC reported on the case of Rosey Hudson, who was taken to court by Excel Parking over a £1,906 claim after taking longer than five minutes to pay at the Copeland Street car park in Derby. Her case was eventually dropped, with other motorists raising similar concerns and seeing their claims the updated rules, to be brought in from Monday by the Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP), will ensure "motorists who face genuine difficulties in paying in a short timeframe are treated fairly". The British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC) previously announced it had set up the panel to review the code of practice, following coverage of Miss Hudson's case last new code of practice will mean that drivers using private car parks, monitored by camera technology such as CCTV and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), will have a "safeguard" in place if they experience delays making the change, if motorists pay before they leave ANPR-managed pay on entry car parks, regardless of whether they pay within five minutes, they should not receive a penalty it "remains essential" for drivers to read signage carefully and follow the rules of the specific car the updated rules only apply to sites where technology supports this change, and does not apply to council car parks and private sites without camera chief executive officer Will Hurley said: "It is crucial that there is a mechanism to identify and resolve issues quickly. I am pleased that the panel has acted swiftly to introduce safeguards for motorists."Andrew Pester, chief executive of the BPA, added: "It is a real testament to the [panel] that this change has been implemented so efficiently. The parking sector is always striving to ensure it operates in the interest of compliant motorists and to ensure that parking is fairly managed for all."A group of MPs previously called on the government to introduce its own statutory code of practice that private car park operators must follow, adding that the private industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself. Miss Hudson is one of several people Excel Parking took to court over its five-minute payment the time, she said she was unable to pay while in the car park due to poor signal on her walked to where she could get connected and paid the full tariff every time she parked there, but was still repeatedly sent parking charge notices (PCNs).In December, Excel Parking dropped its case against her without explanation and did the same for Garry Kay, who parked at the same car park and was preparing to fight costs of £ last month a judge ordered the operator to pay a Peter Barton £19.50 in expenses after he took 19 minutes to pay because he could not find a suitable parking space. Miss Hudson, 31, told the BBC she was cautiously optimistic about the changes. "I am pleased because my hope, in speaking out about my case, was that something would change," she said."I wasn't doing it just for me. There are lots of people in the same situation as me who don't push back and pay these fines just to get the companies off their backs."They are being treated very unfairly by private parking firms, paying fines that are not reasonable."I hope the changes proposed are meaningful, and I do think it should be in all private car parks, not just some."The government said it would make an announcement on plans for a statutory parking code of practice "in due course".A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry."We know how much of an issue this is for drivers, which is why we will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible." Analysis By Caroline Lowbridge, BBC News A lot has happened in the two and a half months since I spoke to Rosey originally contacted the BBC because she wanted to warn others about what was happening to her. She told us she was under a huge amount of stress as a result of legal proceedings by Excel Parking, and she didn't want others to go through the Hudson's story struck a chord with other motorists. Hundreds of them contacted the BBC with their own stories of being issued with PCNs. The two trade associations for private car park operators also announced their intention to end the so-called five-minute payment rule, and set up a panel to oversee changes to the sector's own code of sounded promising but parking campaigners and some MPs remain sceptical. They believe the sector cannot regulate itself, adding the government needs to introduce a statutory code of practice. A government spokesperson told the BBC it will set out details on this "as soon as possible".Meanwhile, drivers are still being threatened with legal action as a result of Excel Parking's five-minute rule. Some are challenging the PCNs and winning when the cases are heard in court, but others are paying up due to fear, or to avoid the stress and hassle of legal proceedings. Excel Parking also remains insistent that Miss Hudson was in the wrong - despite its claim against her being discontinued.
