Additional private parking enforcer approved by DVLA

Over the past few months there have been many reports on how private land owners are increasingly targeting motorists who outstay their welcome and issuing immediate fines and penalty notices. Using automatic number plate recognition technology, landowners, such as supermarkets and service stations, are easily able to clock a driver’s registration as they enter and exit land. This allows an exact period of time to be calculated, providing individuals with the evidence to send out fines if required. Now, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has revealed it’s awarded another private parking sector enforcer, the Independent Parking Committee Ltd (IPC).

For all motorists, including those with private number plates, the new technology and the increasing aggressiveness of private land owners means that more vigilance is needed than ever before when it comes to parking. Remaining on private land for more than even a second past the allowed time can often result in costly fines, and though there are sometimes circumstances to challenge these, going through the process can be an effort in itself. Many drivers are used to strict roadside parking rules, but have become lapse when it comes to adhering to a two hour supermarket car park stay, for example.

Now, along with the British Parking Association (BPA), the IPC has full Accredited Trade Association (ATA) status and will be able to require driver data from the DVLA for those who’ve infringed parking permits. Will Hurley, one of the founders of the IPC said, “We are hoping to raise standards within the parking industry through competition. We work closely with our operators to make sure their practices are lawful. As a legal firm we have been representing parking operators for a number of years. Many aspects of the parking sector are based on law, and we are lawyers.” He added that now the company had gained ATA status, the IPC expected to grow at a sustainable rate, and with the right infrastructure in place, rapid expansion can occur.

Meanwhile, the need to responsible parking will be placed ever more upon motorists, who must adapt to the rules of private land use and ensure they don’t outstay their welcome. With recognition cameras being placed at many locations, the manual aspect of sending penalties has been removed, meaning that driver’s cannot plead their case with an enforcement officer on the scene. Instead, it comes down to making an appeal, and in many cases, motorists simply don’t want to go through the hassle of this.