A political push to bring “cowboy” car park operators under control has been launched in Perth.
The move to change Scottish law was raised by MSP Murdo Fraser, after hundreds of complaints about the city’s Smart Parking-run multi-storey in Kinnoull Street.
The Holyrood members’ bill could lead to an independent appeals panel being set up, as well as a cap on fines.
Mr Fraser announced the bill outside the controversial Perth city centre site on Friday morning, surrounded by about 20 aggrieved motorists.
The parliamentary proposal, which goes out to public consultation, comes as Smart Parking strikes back with civil action against local motorists.
The company has launched proceedings against five people at Perth Sheriff Court. The cases, which called this week, will be heard in the new year.
Mr Fraser said: “I started this campaign three years ago after receiving hundreds of e-mails, letters and phone calls from drivers who had been incorrectly fined at one particular private car park in Perth.
“After subsequent research, it became clear that this is not an issue specific to Perth, but one that affects the whole of Scotland.”
He continued: “Motorists up and down the country are being taken full advantage of and pressured into paying parking charges without adequate access to an independent appeals process.
“Fines are too high and the tactics used to elicit payment verge on the immoral.”
The Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife added: “Tackling cowboy parking companies will require the input of not just drivers, but the industry itself, and I am now calling on interested parties to give their feedback on my proposals.”
The bill, which was officially lodged with the Scottish Parliament yesterday, will further focus on removing “misleading terms” on fines and enforcing clearer signs.
The consultation will run for three months and the bill could be introduced in the Scottish Parliament before the end of next year.
The move has been backed by scores of local people who feel they were unfairly treated by Smart Parking.
But it has also been supported by Smart Parking itself.
Complaints started to pour in after the Kinnoull Street car park was fitted with number plate recognition technology, asking customers to type in their car registration when they pay at the machine.
Caroline Irvine, of Aberargie, near Abernethy, said she was caught out when she punched in a wrong digit.
“I got a letter saying I hadn’t paid for parking,” she said.
“I wrote back to them explaining I had one number wrong in my registration and I thought that would be the end of it.
“I thought that any reasonable person would accept that although I made a mistake, it was clear I had actually paid.”
Instead, she received a series of demands, with letters describing how people had lost thousands of pounds in court costs fighting their parking penalty.
“A lot of people will find these letters really intimidating,” she said.
“But I’m not going to pay, because quite simply I don’t owe them any money.”
“It’s about treating their customers with utter contempt,” said David Lawson, 73, from Coupar Angus, who was also caught out when he accidentally added an extra letter when typing in his registration.
“It is profiteering on a terrible scale.”
Jean MacDiarmid, from Guildtown, was slapped with a demand, threatening court action, because she had gone just two minutes over her allocated time.
“I paid up, but I wish I hadn’t. I just think its so unfair,” she said.
“I’ll never go back.”
A spokesman for Smart Parking insisted the firm operates to the “highest standards” and abides by all British Parking Association guidelines.
“That is why our car parks are busier than ever, which is good news for motorists and local businesses in Perth,” he said.
“We have offered to meet Murdo Fraser to discuss these issues, but sadly this has never happened.
“This is a shame as Murdo would find we actually agree with him on the need for reform and would like to see Scottish law catch up with English law, including the setting up of an independent appeals process.”
