A Government crackdown is set to reduce the cap on parking fines obtained in private car parks from £100 to just £50 in England and Wales.
Companies running private car parks will also have to give clearer information and prices and make the appeals system fairer, according to the BBC.
According to the Minister for Levelling Up, Neil O'Brien, the new measures are aimed at protecting motorists from "aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees."
Read more: Go here for the very latest breaking news updates from across the North East
As reported by Wales Online, he said: "Private firms issue roughly 22,000 parking tickets every day, often adopting a system of misleading and confusing signage, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees designed to extort money from motorists.
“The new Code Of Practice will set out a clear vision with the interests of safe motorists at its heart, while cracking down on the worst offenders who put other people in danger and hinder our emergency services from carrying out their duties.”
The Government plans, which excluded London, would also see motorists able to only pay half of the fine if they do so within 14 days.
However, while the £50 cap would benefit many motorists, if they park in spaces meant for disabled people, they could face fines of £70 to £100.
Motorists could also get a five-minute period to change their mind about parking, as well as it being easier to appeal a fine if they have made a mistake - such as putting in their registration number wrongly.
President of the AA, Edmund King, said: “These much-needed upgrades to private parking rules will give better protection to drivers.
“For too long, those caught by private parking firms simply pay the charge to get rid of it. Thankfully these days are numbered.
“Drivers should feel confident that having a single Code of Practice and a new Appeals Charter will give them confidence to appeal and be properly heard.
“We are also pleased that honest mistakes, like mistyping the car registration into the machine, will now be automatically cancelled.”
RAC head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, added: “The RAC has campaigned for years to end the sharp practices in the private parking sector, so we welcome the new national code that will usher in higher standards and will introduce a lower cap on penalty charge notices, an independent appeals system and an end to rip-off debt collection fees.
“This will undoubtedly make drivers’ experience of using private car parks fairer while at the same time force rogue operators to clean up their acts once and for all.”
For the latest local news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
