Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of a statutory time limit for private parking fine enforcement.

Statutory time limits for issuing and enforcing notices of parking charges are currently enshrined in the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the Limitation Act 1980.

Under the Protection of Freedoms Act, private operators must issue the notice of parking charge within 14 days of the alleged contravention if the notice is sent by post. If a notice is left on vehicle’s windscreen, but is not paid within 28 days, the operator has additional 28 days to send a notice to the registered keeper’s address.

If the issued notice is unpaid, the operator has up to six years to pursue payment or take legal action (e.g. via County Court) under the Limitation Act 1980.