The AA has criticised a change in parking ticket rules which allows wardens to issue a ticket even when the car has been driven away.
The motorists’ group is concerned that drivers - who will receive their tickets in the post – will not be able to remember the incident and therefore be unable to defend themselves.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “A car may stop for legitimate reasons, such as dropping off a passenger or making a delivery. If the car has driven off, the space is clear for another to use - job done, surely.
“Some local authorities have lost sight of the original aims of parking enforcement, which was to keep traffic flowing, warn selfish drivers, punish blatant offenders and keep legitimate use of car parking spaces ticking over. Drivers will feel that tickets by post is just an extension of ‘open season’ on the motorist.”
“The AA will monitor the situation and will raise any concerns with transport minister, Rosie Winterton MP.”
In defence of the scheme, Ms Winterton said: “Parking rules exist to help beat congestion and improve road safety. These regulations will help make parking enforcement fairer, clearer and more open.”
According to the government, the new parking framework makes it clear that councils should not use parking enforcement as a tool for raising revenue or set targets for the number of tickets issued.
The government wants councils to tackle the parking behaviour that causes most disruption or danger to other road users - such as unauthorised parking in spaces for disabled people, at pedestrian crossings, or on yellow lines, while issuing lower penalties for other, less serious, parking offences.
Independent parking adjudicators are also set to get more power, including the right to ask local authorities to reconsider penalty charges where motorists have mitigating circumstances.
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