I know Parking companies hand out PCN and then ticket you for slightest breach. They say it is not a penalty rather a parking charge or genuine pre estimate of loss. Well after reading it's quite clear exactly what it is. This was stated on a consultation paper by MINISTRY OF HOUSING,COMMUNITIES & GOVERNMENT
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29. The level of parking charges
29.Currently, both ATAs set a voluntary limit of £100 on the amount that can be charged as a penalty for an alleged breach of the terms and conditions ofthe car park. Higher amounts require approval from the ATA. We are consulting on two new systems which could replace this: the Three-tiered system and Mirroring the Local Authority system.
&
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2. The primary purpose of penalty charges is to encourage compliance with parking restrictions. In pursuit of this, enforcement authorities should adopt the lowest charge level consistent with a high level of public acceptability and compliance. It’s important to recognize the Local Authority system is based in civil, or in some cases, criminal law, which private parking operators cannot operate under as non-statutory bodies. However, it is still possible to adopt similar principles for setting parking charge levels for private parking.
PAGE 11
29. The level of parking charges
29.Currently, both ATAs set a voluntary limit of £100 on the amount that can be charged as a penalty for an alleged breach of the terms and conditions ofthe car park. Higher amounts require approval from the ATA. We are consulting on two new systems which could replace this: the Three-tiered system and Mirroring the Local Authority system.
&
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2. The primary purpose of penalty charges is to encourage compliance with parking restrictions. In pursuit of this, enforcement authorities should adopt the lowest charge level consistent with a high level of public acceptability and compliance. It’s important to recognize the Local Authority system is based in civil, or in some cases, criminal law, which private parking operators cannot operate under as non-statutory bodies. However, it is still possible to adopt similar principles for setting parking charge levels for private parking.