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| Councils urged to stop clamping | Councils urged to stop clamping |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Councils in England will be banned from using wheel-clamping to raise funds, under new proposals. | |
| A Department for Transport consultation says councils should "not seek to make a surplus" from clamping parked cars. | A Department for Transport consultation says councils should "not seek to make a surplus" from clamping parked cars. |
| The proposed guidance, which is part of a parking regulations shake-up, puts a priority on winning public support. | The proposed 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. |
| The proposals only to clampers working on behalf of councils and not those operating on private land, who are governed by voluntary recommendations from a trade body. | |
| 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 proposals 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 proposals 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." | 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. |
| Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: "Motorists will welcome restrictions on wheel clamping as the punishment rarely fits the crime. | Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: "Motorists will welcome restrictions on wheel clamping as the punishment rarely fits the crime. |
| "Clamping is a crude activity, which should have been outlawed at the time of Dick Turpin." What do you think about the new clamping guidance? Have you ever been clamped? Do you think clamping is justified? Send us your experiences using the form below. | "Clamping is a crude activity, which should have been outlawed at the time of Dick Turpin." What do you think about the new clamping guidance? Have you ever been clamped? Do you think clamping is justified? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 | You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |