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Is anyone lobbying against the British Parking Association's proposals to make vehicle keepers liable for penalties?

You recently mentioned in your column that the British Parking Association is lobbying Parliament to make vehicle keepers liable for parking penalties. Is anybody lobbying to maintain the status quo?

Asked on 21 May 2011 by JW, Chippenham

Answered by Honest John
In typical British oversight no one seems to have bothered because no one realises the implications. The BPA is responsible for the very vague Section 2 Clause 56 in the Protection of Freedoms Bill. It reads:

“Recovery of unpaid parking charges Schedule 4 (which makes provision for the recovery of unpaid parking charges from the keeper of a vehicle in cases where it is not known who was driving the vehicle when the charges were incurred) has effect.”

This is so vague it reads to me as a license to exploit the keeper of any parked car in any circumstance for any cobbled up penalty. It must be very tightly defined or vigorously opposed, otherwise it will give the BPA a similar open season against motorists as the previous government gave to clamping gangs. More at: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/parking-fines
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