Clamped because the parking meter was out of order - what to do?

We now come to our consideration of the regulations of the vehicle clamping industry. I welcome from the Irish Parking Association Mr. Keith Gavin, secretary, Mr. Dave Cullen, director, Mr. Neil Cunningham, director, and Mr. Tom Harrington.


http://debates.oireachtas.ie/TRJ/2012/02/07/00004.asp



Deputy Noel Coonan: What instructions do they give to their employees when they go clamping? We spoke about a period of grace but I am concerned about whether they have discretion. If some poor unfortunate lady returns to her car and is under pressure and the clampers are about to commence, does the clamper have discretion to accept the fine rather than go through the whole procedure?


The witnesses referred to Irish Rail, where they operate. Last winter, ticketing machines in my local station were frozen. People got the train and when they got back, their cars were clamped. The machines were not working. What consolation can the operators offer these people and what common sense reason can they give for the hardship they put people through? This was not the fault of these people; it was a failure of the system. I refer to the cost of appeals, on top of what people pay when they are clamped. It is difficult for people to afford it because there is pain in this country at the moment. Some 50% of appeals are successful. What number of people appeal and what number do not bother because they are not aware of it, are scared to appeal or cannot afford it? I would like the witnesses to address the people employed by their organisations, particularly in respect of the aggression to which Deputy McLoughlin referred.


Mr. Tom Harrington: I apologise. If the machines were not working, we would not implement clamping on that site because we check the machines every time we go on site. I will happily look into any individual case with Deputy Coonan if he has the details. Customer service is a major concern for Irish Rail and clamping is a last resort on any of its sites.


One must consider why we are present. My organisation manages 800 sites across the country. We do not just rock up and put signs up that we are clamping. People have an issue, for whatever reason, such as the car park being abused. They need to reserve spaces for themselves or their customers and that is why we are there. We are invited to these sites to solve a problem.


Regarding staff, regulation by the Private Security Authority, PSA, would be a good thing. The second appeals process is independent and is the same service used by Dublin City Council. I stand over that.