'£50 cap for park charge'

Call for new code to rein in 'unfair' fines

- GRAHAM HISCOTT

FINES imposed by private parking firms should be capped at £50, campaigners have urged.

The government is consulting on a legally enforceable code of practice for private operators.

The industry currently polices itself but furious motorists report being hit with unfair fines and chased by debt collectors if they refuse to pay.

Private parking firms issued a record 14.4 million tickets in the year to March, RAC analysis found.

The number of requests for vehicle owner details made by car park management companies to the DVLA in order to fine drivers increased nearly sevenfold from 1.9 million in 2012 to 12.8 million in 2024, government data shows.