Andy Burnham promises to end rip-off parking charges with new rules to challenge fines

Andy Burnham promises to end rip-off parking charges with new rules to challenge fines Motorists in England, Scotland and Wales will be given 10 minutes to leave car parks without facing a penalty once their session ends under a new private parking code of practice Andy Burnham has promised to put a stop to rip-off parking charges with new rules to challenge fines. Under a shake-up being announced today drivers will get new rights to challenge unfair private parking charges, including a guaranteed five minutes to decide whether to park. Motorists in England, Scotland and Wales will also be given 10 minutes to leave car parks without facing a penalty once their session ends under a new private parking code of practice. Under the new code being laid in Parliament, charges will be axed on appeal for honest mistakes, including stopping briefly to check directions, medical emergencies, breakdown, or broken ticket machine. The government said that for smaller slip-ups - including entering the wrong registration - drivers will face a maximum charge of £20 on appeal. According to previous figures from the RAC, a staggering 16.9million parking tickets were issued by private companies in the last financial year - a sharp rise of 17% on the previous year. Mr Burnham said: "Being a few minutes late back to your car or typing one digit of your numberplate wrong shouldn't end with a hefty fine landing on your doormat. "These charges leave people feeling ripped off and out of pocket, so I'm putting a stop to them. We are introducing clearer rules, longer grace periods and lower charges for genuine mistakes, while going after the deliberate scams that rip drivers off." Under the plans, ministers also promised to crack down on dodgy second-hand car dealers, who wind back odometers to disguise a vehicle's true mileage. Angela Rayner, the Housing, Communities, and Local Government Secretary, said: "Parking should be straightforward, not another everyday hassle. "These changes mean drivers get a fairer deal, protected time to park and leave without fear of being unfairly charged, and confidence that private parking providers are held to a higher standard. It's yet another step forward in this government's plan to take the stress out of everyday life and ease the pressure on people's pockets." Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at The AA said: "After seven long years, drivers finally have something which could offer them better protections against the worst private parking operators. For too long, many private parking operators have aggressively attacked drivers to the point where many simply pay up if they receive a charge from one on the doorstep." "While this is a good first step, there is still a huge amount of work to do, such as tackling the scourge of debt recovery fees. Ultimately, we need to stop charges being issued in the first place, especially where the driver has done nothing wrong. "Until now, the balance has always felt in favour of the parking firms. We are hopeful that further measures can be added onto this foundation, offering better safeguards to drivers."