A new Code of Practice for private car parking firms could see millions of UK drivers benefit as fine prices are slashed.

The government crackdown will see fines cut and a fairer appeals system created for those who have received tickets.

The new measures announced will see parking fines cut up to 50% in the majority of caused across Scotland, England and Wales.

These include a maximum cap for parking fines, a 10-minute grace period before a late fine can be issued, and a requirement for parking firms to clearly display pricing and terms and conditions.

In England outside of London and in Wales, charges will be reduced from £100 to £70 or £50, depending on the seriousness of the breach.

Private firms that breach the new Code could be barred from collecting fines from motorists at all.

Private parking firms are currently able to hide behind non-specific, pseudo-legal and aggressive language when pursuing motorists. However, the Code of Practice will provide new higher standards preventing this

Border Telegraph: (PA)(PA)

The measures hope to be a major boost to millions of motorists in England, Scotland and Wales and will help to draw people back to their local high streets by eliminating the fear of being unfairly caught out.

According to gov.uk, the Code also states:

  • New parking charge levels which will mirror the local authority system for publicly accessible car parks, halving parking charges for millions of motorists to £50. It will keep the current £100 cap in some circumstances such as abusing Blue Badge bays or if a motorist is trespassing on private land.
  • Motorists will be offered a 50% discount if they pay within 14 days.
  • Parking debt collectors will be banned from adding additional excess fees to the level of the parking charge, currently as much as £70.
  • A compulsory 10-minute grace periods before firms can issue a late fine.
  • A compulsory 5-minute cooling-off period in which a motorist can consider the terms and conditions and change their mind about parking.
  • A crackdown on parking firms using aggressive or pseudo-legal language to intimidate motorists into paying fines.
  • A requirement for parking firms to clearly display pricing and terms and conditions of parking, contact details and how to appeal a charge.

Minister for Levelling Up, Neil O‘Brien MP said: “Private firms issue roughly 22,000 parking tickets every day, often adopting a system of misleading and confusing signage, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees designed to extort money from motorists.

“The new Code of Practice will set out a clear vision with the interests of safe motorists at its heart, while cracking down on the worst offenders who put other people in danger and hinder our emergency services from carrying out their duties.”