Parking fines: a fairer deal

• Mitigating circumstances will be considered
• Fines for lesser penalties will be lower
• Government hopes to boost public confidence

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Motorists who can prove they were unfairly given a parking fine will have more chance of a successful appeal, under new regulations passed in parliament.

The Department for Transport's initiative will give independent adjudicators more power and include the right to ask local authorities to scrap fines for motorists who have mitigating circumstances.

The scheme will begin next March, to give local authorities time to prepare for the change.

Transport Minister Rosie Winterton said: 'It is vital that we increase public confidence in parking enforcement by making it fairer.

'These new rules will make the system more transparent and consistent.

'There is a perception that motorists are often unfairly penalised by parking attendants who are only interested in issuing as many tickets as possible.

'We want to ensure the penalties they issue are fair and justified.'

As a result, regulations set to be introduced later this year will also introduce lower fines for less serious offences and ensure local authorities use parking enforcement to improve road safety and cut congestion, not make money.