Tickets from parking firms hit new high

PRIVATE parking companies have set a new record for the number of tickets issued to drivers, latest figures show.

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Some 15.9 million parking tickets were handed out by private businesses in the year to the end of September, according to Press Association analysis of government data.

That is up 17% from 13.6 million during the previous 12 months.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the increases demonstrate that something must be going "badly awry" with the parking system, as the majority of motorists "try very hard" to avoid tickets.

Each ticket can be up to £100, meaning the total cost to drivers may be almost £4.4 million per day at the current rate.

Private parking businesses have been accused of using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees. Many drivers have been sent tickets they claim are unfair because of the way some payment machines operate.