Clamping on private land will be outlawed on October 1, welcomed by the motoring body the AA.
From October 1, it becomes a criminal offence to clamp on private land as the Protection of Freedoms Act comes into force. SIA badges for wheel immobilisers (in the regulator’s jargon) end. For the SIA licensing side of the matter, visit the SIA website.
Edmund King, AA president said: “We are delighted that cowboy clampers will have to hang up their clamps in a fortnight. This campaign had become a personal crusade for me over the last decade. The outright ban on wheel clamping on private land is a victory for justice and common sense.
“We have been campaigning for a ban against this legalised mugging for many years. Too many clampers have been acting like modern day highwaymen for too long. Many elderly and vulnerable people have been ripped off by these callous cowboys. Clamping has been banned in Scotland since 1992 without problems.
“We have advised numerous people over the years about what to do when clamped. There seemed to be a spate of Friday nights when I would get calls from pensioners who had been clamped.”
According to the AA some of the cowboys, in its words, are drinking in the last chance saloon, and as the motoring organisation puts it cashing in before they are finally outlawed so we advise drivers to be particularly vigilant over the next two weeks.
The AA says that it has always argued that motorists should not park where they like but believe that in the 21st century there are more humane ways to regulate parking.
The AA notes that clamping has not been banned in all circumstances. The clamping ban will apply on all private land in England and Wales unless there is some other ‘lawful authority’ in place which allows clamping and or removal of vehicles. This includes some private land which belongs to local authorities, some railway or airport car parks. Clamping and towing away on private land has been banned in Scotland since 1992. In Northern Ireland the ban will not apply.
For background and an AA collection of recent news items on clamping visit the AA website.
