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At last: independent appeals service for motorists fleeced by cowboy clampers

29 January 2010

The Government has finally promised to give motorists the right of independent appeal if they have a grievance against wheel clampers who immobilise them on private land - this would bring the law into line with what happens on the public highway.

The proposed appeal tribunals will also have the power to order clampers to pay their victims compensation.

The move comes in an amendment being tabled to the Crime and Security Bill currently going through Parliament, and follows just a day after the RAC Foundation and others submitted evidence to a committee of MPs scrutinising the legislation.

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said:

"Finally ministers are acting, and the licence to print money which many cowboy clampers believe they have seems about to be revoked.

"No longer will those drivers who are unfairly penalized have to fall on the mercy of unscrupulous clampers. An independent appeals system is fundamental to reform of this essentially unregulated business, and something we have been demanding for years.

"It seems to be no coincidence that the move comes just a few hours after the RAC Foundation gave its evidence on an appeals service to MPs.

"Wheel clamping has been described in Parliament as something akin to ‘legalised extortion’. Now the excesses of rogue operators are about to be stamped out once and for all.

"But it is also crucial the new measures extend to those operators who are increasingly ticketing on private land. There must be no loopholes which allow motorists to be fleeced.”