that have driven shoppers from the High Street

  • From 6 April, parking wardens have to give drivers 10 minute 'grace period'
  • CCTV 'spy cars' will be banned in majority of circumstances
  • Ministers say measures will prevent unfair parking fines motorists face


New laws to crack-down parking 'cowboys' and councils which rip-off motorists with unfair fines come into force yesterday. The use of CCTV 'spy cars' has been banned in the majority of circumstances in a bid to rend the tyranny of automated fines landing on doorsteps and being issued in industrial volumes. And from April 6 parking wardens will have to give drivers a 10 minute 'grace period' when parked in a bay. Ministers say the package of measures being phased in over the first week of April will prevent unfair fines being levied on motorists for being just a few minutes late back to the vehicle – whether in a paid or free parking space. The measures aim to stop 'over-zealous' parking enforcement which often forces people to shop in out-of-town centres or online and have been welcomed by motoring groups. They were approved in the last reading of parking reforms in the Deregulation Bill. Other measures include new powers for parking adjudicators so they can hold councils to account to tackle parking problems such as poor signage at specific locations......Read more here