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| Wheel-clamp profits to be banned | Wheel-clamp profits to be banned |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Councils in England and Wales will be banned from using wheel-clamping as a money-raising measure, it has emerged. | |
| New Department of Transport guidance says councils should "not seek to make a surplus" from clamping parked cars. | New Department of Transport guidance says councils should "not seek to make a surplus" from clamping parked cars. |
| The guidance, which is part of a parking regulations shake-up, puts a priority on winning public support. | The guidance, which is part of a parking regulations shake-up, puts a priority on winning public support. |
| It says the enforcement should be "proportional" to the contravention's seriousness. Wheel clampers are being urged to target persistent offenders. | It says the enforcement should be "proportional" to the contravention's seriousness. Wheel clampers are being urged to target persistent offenders. |
| The guidance is issued to councils outside London, based on experience in the capital. | The guidance is issued to councils outside London, based on experience in the capital. |
| It also recommends a 15-minute "period of grace" for cars parked after a meter has run out. | It also recommends a 15-minute "period of grace" for cars parked after a meter has run out. |
| Persistent evaders | Persistent evaders |
| A Department for Transport spokeswoman said the guidance aims to be "more motorist friendly" for those who do not persistently evade parking charges. | A Department for Transport spokeswoman said the guidance aims to be "more motorist friendly" for those who do not persistently evade parking charges. |
| "One illegally-parked car can, and frequently does, cause traffic jams," she said. | "One illegally-parked car can, and frequently does, cause traffic jams," she said. |
| "This is exacerbated by some motorists who regularly and deliberately contravene parking regulations. | "This is exacerbated by some motorists who regularly and deliberately contravene parking regulations. |
| "These persistent evaders are often not registered, or not correctly registered, on the DVLA database and therefore think that they can get away with not paying any penalty charges. | "These persistent evaders are often not registered, or not correctly registered, on the DVLA database and therefore think that they can get away with not paying any penalty charges. |
| "We are bringing in quicker clamping and removal times for persistent evaders." | "We are bringing in quicker clamping and removal times for persistent evaders." |
| Wheel clampers are being urged to make vehicles which are suspicious in other ways - such as not having a valid tax disk - a top priority. | Wheel clampers are being urged to make vehicles which are suspicious in other ways - such as not having a valid tax disk - a top priority. |
| The guidance suggests clampers should give a "low priority" to cars overstaying beyond 15 minutes, parked on a single yellow line or in a resident's bay without a permit. | The guidance suggests clampers should give a "low priority" to cars overstaying beyond 15 minutes, parked on a single yellow line or in a resident's bay without a permit. |
| Vehicles to be a "medium priority" include people feeding a meter to stay beyond the maximum time or not paying at all. | Vehicles to be a "medium priority" include people feeding a meter to stay beyond the maximum time or not paying at all. |
| The document also advises that: "Wheel-clamping may be brought into disrepute if a local authority permits it for what the public may regard as relatively unimportant contraventions." | |
| It also advises that clamped cars should be released within an hour of payment. | It also advises that clamped cars should be released within an hour of payment. |