Private parking firms have promised to revise their guidelines to ensure motorists are not subjected to penalties if they don’t pay to park within five minutes. The decision was made following the case of a driver who was taken to court after failing to pay £1,906 in fines for taking more than five minutes to pay for parking in Derby. Rosey Hudson received 10 Parking Charge Notices (PCN) after leaving her car to find phone reception so she could use an app to pay for a space.
Two industry associations, the International Parking Community (IPC) and the British Parking Association (BPA), have stated that they will change the rules regarding fines in a bid to “protect genuine motorists” and “reflect technological advancements.” The IPC and BPA will form a panel to overhaul the sector’s code of conduct, with a focus on Ms Hudson’s case, which has been dubbed the five-minute payment rule.
The BPA has stated that it will urgently review Ms Hudson’s case, which led to her being taken to court by private car park operator Excel Parking. Although Excel dropped its case against her in December, Ms Hudson’s case caused significant stress, with others in a similar position supporting her throughout.
The move to revise the guidelines demonstrates that private parking companies are keen about improving their sector’s reputation, according to the IPC’s chief executive, Will Hurley. BPA’s chief executive, Andrew Pester, said the move to establish the panel indicates their seriousness in uplifting standards and implementing necessary changes when required. Despite the bill receiving royal assent in 2019, which included a maximum cap of £50 on most fines, a grace period for lateness, and a fairer appeals process, it was repealed in June 2022, following a legal challenge by parking companies
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