'It is basically the Wild West' - AA calls for anti-clamping legislation to be introduced

October 31, 2017

Mark Stockdale says he sympathises with business owners whose parks are pinched, but says clamping should only be a last resort.

The Automobile Association is repeating calls for wheel clamping as a parking enforcement measure to be banned in public car parks, in line with UK legislation.

AA spokesperson Mark Stockdale, speaking this morning to TVNZ 1's Breakfast programme, said currently "it's basically the Wild West".

"The AA's view is that wheel clamping needs to be banned in public car parks like it is in the UK," Mr Stockdale said.

"The fees are disproportionate - typically they'll charge $2 or $300 to remove the clamp.

"A common complaint we get is there's a lack of signage, or the signage is ambiguous ... you have to take them to the Disputes Tribunal to get your money back and a lot of people can't be bothered doing that."

Mr Stockdale said he sympathises with business owners whose parks are routinely taken without asking, and he recommends they engage a parking enforcement company rather than tackle the issue themselves.

Some parking enforcement companies have signed a voluntary code of conduct, which advocates for clamping only as a last resort, and those companies should be given preference, Mr Stockdale said.

Several attempts have been made to regulate the industry, including voluntary codes of conduct drafted in 2012 and 2015, but not all parking companies have signed them, preferring to continue the lucrative practice.

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