British motorists have been hit with a staggering and record-breaking number of private parking tickets over the last year, leading to widespread anger and demands for immediate regulatory change.
Unprecedented Surge in Parking Penalties
New reports reveal that private parking operators issued an astonishing 15.9 million tickets in the past 12 months. This marks a dramatic increase of 17% compared to the previous year, when 13.6 million notices were handed out. The scale of the issue is monumental, with the current figure more than double the total from six years ago, before legislation was introduced to tackle rogue operators.
A System "Going Badly Awry"
Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, issued a stark warning, stating the dramatic rise demonstrates fundamental flaws in the system. "The rate of tickets being issued by the private parking industry has hit yet another record," he said. "This is why we fear something must be going badly awry and why the outcome of the latest Private Parking Code of Practice consultation can't come soon enough."
He highlighted that between June and September, around 48,000 tickets were being issued daily, a figure he described as "ominously high." The data is corroborated by requests to the DVLA from parking management companies, which sought vehicle keeper details at a rate of almost 1.2 million per month.
The Billion-Pound Burden on Drivers
With each Parking Charge Notice (PCN) typically set at £100, the collective financial burden on drivers could reach a potential £1.4 billion, unless appeals are successful or the discounted rate is paid. This enormous sum underscores the critical need for fair treatment. "Drivers need to know they're being treated fairly whenever they use a private car park," Mr Williams emphasised.
The surge to 15.9 million tickets represents a 13% rise on the 12.8 million recorded in the 2023/2024 period. This relentless increase has intensified pressure on the government to finalise and implement a robust new Private Parking Code of Practice to protect motorists from unfair practices.
