Industry bodies announce changes following high-profile case of £1,906 fine over five-minute payment rule
Private parking companies in the UK have pledged to update their codes of conduct to ensure motorists are not penalised for taking more than five minutes to pay for parking.
This commitment follows the case of Rosey Hudson, who faced a £1,906 fine after accumulating multiple Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) for exceeding the five-minute payment window at a car park in Derby.
Ms. Hudson, a 31-year-old from Leicestershire, received ten PCNs over several days for taking longer than five minutes to pay for parking. She explained that due to poor phone reception, she had to walk to a nearby store to access Wi-Fi and use the parking app.
Despite paying the full £3.30 daily rate each time, she was fined £100 per incident, with additional charges escalating the total to £1,906.
The British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC), two leading industry bodies, have announced plans to revise their codes of conduct to “protect genuine motorists” and “reflect technological advancements.”
A panel will review the private parking sector’s code to ensure it accommodates drivers who may have difficulty making prompt payments upon entry.
The BPA stated that a revision addressing payment difficulties is expected to take effect by February 2025, with a full review anticipated by April 2025.
This initiative aims to prevent situations like Ms. Hudson’s, where drivers are unfairly penalised due to circumstances beyond their control, such as poor phone reception.
The case has sparked widespread concern over the fairness of parking fines and the practices of private parking operators.
In response to the public outcry, Excel Parking, the company that issued the fines to Ms. Hudson, discontinued its claim against her without explanation.
Ms. Hudson expressed relief, stating, “I’ve basically won without having to go to court, which is incredible, and I feel like I’ve had a weight lifted off my shoulders.”
The case has also prompted discussions about the need for a government-backed code of practice for private parking companies. A bill to introduce such a code received royal assent in 2019 but was withdrawn in June 2022 after a legal challenge by parking companies.
The proposed code included measures such as a £50 cap on most fines, a grace period for lateness, and a fairer appeals system.
While the industry’s voluntary code of practice is a step toward fairer parking enforcement, motoring organisations argue that it falls short of the standards required to protect drivers from unfair practices.
The AA’s head of roads policy, Jack Cousens, stated, “This self-authored code doesn’t acknowledge the need to cap charges and remove debt recovery fees… These elements are desperately needed from a government-backed code to protect innocent drivers from the sharks running private car parks.”
As the private parking sector works to implement these changes, motorists are advised to stay informed about their rights and the evolving regulations to ensure fair treatment and avoid unjust fines.
