British motorists have been hit with a staggering 76 million parking tickets from private companies in the seven years since legislation was passed to regulate the sector, revealing systemic failures in enforcement practices. The Parking (Code of Practice) Bill, which received royal assent on 15 March 2019, was designed to establish a clear and fair code of conduct for private parking operators, addressing widespread complaints about misleading signage, aggressive debt collection, and excessive penalty charges.
Regulatory Rollback and Ongoing Consultation
Despite initial progress, the proposed code—which included a key measure to halve the cap on most parking fines to £50—was controversially withdrawn by the Conservative government in June 2022 following legal challenges from parking companies. The Labour Government subsequently held a new consultation last year to reintroduce a code, but implementation delays have left drivers vulnerable. Analysis by the motoring research charity RAC Foundation, based on Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data, shows that between April 2019 and September last year, companies requested 68.4 million records to pursue vehicle owners for alleged infringements.
Alarming Daily Ticket Rates
The RAC Foundation calculated that approximately eight million additional requests have been made since then, based on a daily rate of 48,000 tickets, bringing the total to 76.4 million. Steve Gooding, director of the charity, emphasized the absurdity of the situation, stating, "No one denies there are some drivers who will always try it on, but the idea that the vast majority of the estimated 48,000 people who get ticketed daily set out to flout the rules is absurd." He added, "In this financial climate, who knowingly risks getting charged a 'penalty' of typically £100? This suggests something fundamental is wrong with the system."
Gooding urged ministers to finally act to curb the power of the parking industry, whose primary aim is profit maximization. He noted that resetting the private parking landscape would benefit millions of motorists while still addressing genuine offending. The use of debt recovery agencies by parking operators to collect unpaid tickets has further exacerbated tensions, with cases such as a woman facing a £1,906 fine for failing to pay within five minutes highlighting the severity of enforcement tactics.
Government and Industry Responses
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson stated, "Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry. We have run a consultation on this issue and will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible." Meanwhile, Isaac Occhipinti, head of external affairs at the British Parking Association, acknowledged the need for a updated code, saying, "The BPA recognises the need for a code of practice that reflects today's motoring environment. With record numbers of vehicles on the road, the new framework is an important step to address current concerns."
Occhipinti defended parking charges as a necessary deterrent, warning that reductions could lead to lower compliance and increased disruption. However, the ongoing high volume of tickets issued underscores the urgent need for regulatory action to protect drivers from exploitative practices and ensure a fairer system for all road users.
