- Private parking businesses issued a record 16.9 million tickets to UK drivers over the past year, representing a 17 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
- The sharp rise means drivers face a potential collective daily cost exceeding £4.6 million, with individual penalties reaching up to £100.
- Industry critics have accused private operators of using misleading signage, unreasonable fees, and aggressive debt collection tactics.
- Legislation for an official code of practice was passed in 2019 to cap fines and reform appeals, but implementation remains delayed following legal challenges from parking firms.
- The RAC Foundation highlighted that around 76 million tickets have been issued since parliament initially recognised the need for sector reform seven years ago.
IN FULL
