Pro Installer January 2017 - Issue 46 | Page 40

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PRO MOTORING

JANUARY 2017 PRO INSTALLER
www . proinstaller . co . uk

CLAMP DOWN ON PARKING CHARGE NOTICES

Parking Charge Notices present a different type of fine to the standard local authority-issued Penalty Charge Notices - or parking tickets - you might be more used to receiving .
These types of fines are the result of committing a parking offence while parking on private property and have their own rules and regulations to abide by . They even have a different method of appealing - which is why it is so important to know the difference .
‘ Did you know that by parking in a private car park space , you are effectively signing up to a contract between you – the person to whom a vehicle is registered in the DVLA database – and the operator of the car park ?’
The RAC says that the rules for private parking , however , are not always made clear before you enter the car park . Did you know that by parking in a private car park space , you are effectively signing up to a contract between you – the person to whom a vehicle is registered in the DVLA database – and the operator of the car park ? This means you are agreeing to their terms and conditions upon entry without realising .
WHAT IS A PARKING CHARGE NOTICE ? Parking Charge Notices are the result of a parking infringement on private land or in a car park which is operated by private organisations on behalf of the landowner and not enforced by the local highways authority or the police . This means you are liable to a Parking Charge Notice as opposed
Picture courtesy of the RAC .
to a local-authority-issued parking ticket or Penalty Charge Notice . Typically , these are found at airports , railway stations , supermarkets , fast food restaurants and out of town retail outlets .
THE NEED-TO-KNOW FACTS If you are unfortunate enough to receive a fine , it is likely that a yellow plastic packet will be stuck
onto your windscreen , very similar in appearance to one you may receive from a local authority . This will usually say ‘ Parking Charge Notice ’, rather than ‘ Penalty Charge Notice ’, and will indicate that the operator believes you have contravened the terms and conditions of the car park . If the operator is a member of an accredited trade association
( ATA ) such as the British Parking Association ( BPA ) or the International Parking Committee ( IPC ), the ticket should give reasons for the contravention and methods to pay , and should also contain information on how you can appeal . If your car is being or has been clamped , whoever is doing this is breaking the law in England , Wales and Scotland . Clamping on private land became illegal in 2012 in England and Wales but there may be local by-law exceptions to this and notices to this effect should be displayed . You would be within your rights to call the police to report clamping . Similarly , if someone demands a penalty from you on the spot , you should contact the police . However , if you overstay by half an hour and the attendant asks for the standard fee for the extra half hour ( ie . no penalty ) this would be seen as reasonable .

MOBILE PHONE DRIVERS SHOULD GET INSTANT BAN

All motorists caught using a handheld phone while driving should be automatically disqualified and fined £ 1,000 , an MP has said . Labour ’ s Roger Godsiff warned that the government ’ s proposals to increase the minimum fine and number of penalty points awarded to offenders is too low and does not “ fully reflect the risk ” to other people . He has now called for tougher measures as a way of discouraging such “ dangerous behaviour ”.
Official figures seem to suggest police are turning a blind eye to mobile phone use when driving – with the total of fixed penalty notices issued by forces in England and Wales plunging by 43 % between 2014 and 2015 . The RAC ’ s road safety spokesman Pete Williams claims that law-abiding motorists are increasingly keen to see the law on illegal mobile use being properly enforced . Mr Godsiff tabled an early day motion ( EDM ), which is formally a motion for debate .
Ministers announced in September that they want to double the punishment for handheld mobile phone use from three penalty points and a minimum fine of £ 100 , to six points and £ 200 . This would mean new drivers would lose their licence the first time they are caught using a handheld phone , as clocking up six points within two years of passing the test is enough to ensure it is revoked . More experienced motorists can lose their licence if they receive 12 penalty points within a three-year period .