Parking Fine Relief: New Rule Change Gives Drivers More Time to Pay

Private parking firms will have their rules reviewed. This is due to issues people face when paying. Some drivers struggled to pay via apps; signal problems often caused delays. Previously, drivers had five minutes to pay. They risked a fine if they exceeded that time.

Rosey Hudson received a large fine in Derby. She often took longer to pay for parking because there was no machine and poor phone signal. She had to walk to get a signal to use the app. Hudson refused to pay the £1,906 fine. The court eventually withdrew her fine.

This issue was discussed in the House of Lords. A member asked about the five-minute rule review. An official acknowledged Hudson’s case was problematic. Officials recognize issue with app payments. People struggle with app downloads sans wifi.

Parking groups noticed the payment issues too, and they acted quickly in response to issues. New rules were introduced this February. The BPA and IPC will revise their code. This protects drivers struggling to pay fast. Updates will reflect tech changes.

A panel will conduct a complete code review. Concerns exist about parking firms’ practices. Problems include confusing signs and aggressive debt collection. Unreasonable fines remain a major complaint. Firms issued 41,000 tickets a day, on average, last year, government data analysis showed this trend. Tickets cost drivers up to £100 each. The daily cost could be about £4.1 million.

A bill addressed parking company practices in 2019. This was under the Conservative government. This code capped fines and improved appeals. It banned aggressive language on tickets. The code was withdrawn after a legal challenge. The government plans a new consultation this year. This should create a less vulnerable code. The BPA and IPC published their own code last June.