www.Parctel.com: Rogue companies which issue parking tickets on private land will be driven out of the market thanks to an initiative set to be enforced later this year. From October 2007, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will release vehicle registration information only to those companies which are members of an Accredited Trade Association.
The British Parking Association (BPA), which is to become the first Accredited Trade Association, said on the 18th April 2007 at Parkex, Europe’s largest parking industry fair, that the initiative will prevent motorists receiving high-priced, unregulated tickets.
As it has the responsibility of being the only parking organisation with official DVLA accreditation, the British Parking Association has also announced that it will be launching its own Approved Operator Scheme, backed by a Code of Practice for Parking Enforcement on Private Land and Unregulated Car Parks. Members that do not comply with the terms of this Code (see notes for terms) could have their British Parking Association membership initially suspended, and possibly terminated (dependent on individual circumstances of complaint).
Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman said: “This initiative will help us clamp down on unscrupulous people who abuse the system to make money out of innocent drivers. I fully support the Approved Operator Scheme and welcome the fact that the British Parking Association is DVLA’s first Accredited Trade Association.”
Part 2 of the Code, introduced today, extends the scope of the successful ‘wheel-clampers’ Code introduced at Parkex in 2006 and aims to standardise the industry’s approach to ticketing on private land and introduce a level of fairness for the consumer. Under the Code guidelines, standard charges for a parking ticket issued on private land should not exceed £75, and the maximum charge shall not exceed £150. Early payment discounts are recommended for a period of 7-14 days and all details of charges should be included on signage.
DVLA’s External and Corporate Services Director Richard Kitchen said: “This is a positive step in meeting Dr Ladyman's call for a more robust system and I am pleased to report that the BPA is the first organisation to receive Accredited Trade Association status.”
Keith Banbury, Chief Executive of the British Parking Association, said: “This collaboration is a long time coming. Now that we have launched the Code and announced our Approved Operator Scheme, the public can look forward to a fairer, more transparent and regulated regime for parking on private land. There are companies operating in ways that are unacceptable, and the public is both confused and concerned. Our aim in extending our regulatory role in the parking industry is to reward good practice and drive out bad, leaving only legitimate companies undertaking fair and proper enforcement.“
Compliance with the Code will be monitored by the BPA. Members will be required to submit evidence of compliance annually, highlighting any issues and identifying proposed solutions. A dedicated compliance manager will conduct regular and random testing via on-site inspections to ensure that the Code’s principles are being maintained. Where members’ operations are found wanting, remedial action will be a requirement; where this does not happen and failure to comply with the Code persists, a member shall be suspended, and possibly expelled from the BPA. The compliance management team will also investigate complaints about alleged breaches of the Code by its members. The British Parking Association will not, however, be adjudicating in individual parking disputes; these are covered by the Code’s requirement for Approved Operators’ to have an effective Disputes Management procedure.
The new Code was drawn up by the BPA’s Director of Technical Services with support from the British Parking Association Off-Street Enforcement Special Interest Group.
Source: British Parking Association - BPA
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