Thousands of drivers face £130 fine 'coming through their letterbox'

Thousands of drivers face £130 fine 'coming through their letterbox'
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A new rule change could help drivers after motorists were slapped with 162 parking fines each and every day as a local council rakes in millions. Parking fines increased by 456 per cent over the 12-month period in Somerset.

According to a Freedom of Information request, the number of parking fines issued grew from 48,839 between August 2022 and August 2023 to 59,106 representing a 21 per cent increase. The average parking fine drivers can receive in the region ranges from £50 to £130.

Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at Cinch said: "These figures should be a reminder for all drivers to carefully check any nearby signs before parking, especially in busy areas or places they aren't familiar with. Nobody wants to find a parking fine come through their letterbox."

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The council detailed: “Civil Enforcement Officers are trained to follow procedures to ensure that Penalty Charge Notices are served fairly. In some cases, this means observing for a period of time to ensure that an exemption (for example loading or unloading) does not apply. A Civil Enforcement Officer is also required to gather relevant information (such as the vehicle registration mark and photographs) before a Penalty Charge Notice can be served.”

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: “It’s important to stress that a penalty notice can only be served if a vehicle is parked in contravention of parking regulations, such as failing to pay for parking or parking in a restricted area. The increase appears to be simply down to a rise in the number of drivers parking in contravention of the restrictions."

It comes as a new private parking code has been put together by the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPA). The BPA believes the new guidelines will “raise standards” for road users and help to "deliver greater transparency and consistency”.