Cowboy parking firms to be forced out of business in tough new clampdown

COWBOY parking firms will be forced out of business in a tough clampdown.

Those flouting stringent new rules planned by ministers will be barred from accessing DVLA data and fining motorists — stopping their revenue.

Tickets they issue are up 13-fold in a decade.

And they use DVLA details to find 19,000 vehicle owners a day — one every 4½ seconds.

But nearly 10,000 drivers approached Citizens Advice last year over issues such as poor parking signs, a confusing appeal system and intimidating cash demands.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: “For too long drivers have suffered unjust fines at the hands of dodgy parking firms.

“We need a fairer, clearer and more consistent system that will bring the small minority of unscrupulous operators in line with those who are behaving appropriately.

“That’s why we’re putting the brakes on rogue operators, backing new laws to stop aggressive behaviour and providing a simpler way to appeal.”

Ministers acted after a Private Members’ Bill by Tory Sir Greg Knight.

In 2012 they banned clamping or towing away on private land.

The RAC Foundation’s Steve Gooding said: “We hoped that would end sharp practices. But the fact firms issue millions of  tickets a year shows something is still  awry.

“Drivers want a fair system. That’s what a code set by Government, rather than the industry itself, should bring.”

Andrew Pester, boss of industry group the British Parking Association, said: “A single, mandatory code is important to ensure unscrupulous providers don’t undermine the sector.”