By Martin Scholes

Ethical issues regarding car towing are open to conjecture, but perhaps it is the sheer extortionate rate requested by car compounds. These are effectively holding places which are used by the police after a car incident caused by poor parking, road accident or general road disobedience.

Even the people who own car compounds may take matters into their own hands and tow the car away themselves in an attempt to gain monetary benefit; without the knowledge of the parker, especially when signs are so discreet and not visible to suggest parking is unpermitted.

Parallels can be related to the use of private clamping whereby the home office estimates 500,000 drivers every year are clamped on private land. The average release fee demanded is £112 and in many cases, a direct payout is ensured by instructing the driver to go to the cashpoint and pay immediately.

Fortunately, these unethical intimidation tactics will no longer be allowed. Instead, new legislation has meant that those attempting to undertake this act will have fines upward of £5000. And if they refuse, then a place in the cells awaits.

Apparently the public have spend £55 million a years on fees to release their vehicle, but a lot of the offenders have had the cheek to respond and say they want compensation due to the costs associated with the clamps and other nominal fees. But honourably, the council and government have rejected such arrogant pleas. And rightly so.

However, this will only apply to private clampers. Meaning the police, councils and local authorities will maintain their rights to initiate the law in the event of actual unauthorised parking. So still show caution and be aware of signs, otherwise you may be in for an unwelcome surprise.

Anyway, regarding car compounds, perhaps the government can relate to this case and halt unethical nature of these places. Recently, there was an example of an instance whereby a friend was stopped by the police for a mistaken identity incident, towed the car to a compound and made to pay a ridiculous holding fee. £170 for one night. Extortionate, I know.

But despite these charges, apparently in one example, a Bristol compound was making significant losses, causing greater costs for tax payers. But realistically, how? True there are certain factors to consider such as wages, and generally, nothing much after that.

The news was littered with complaints from people, including women with children who would protest because they were unable to pay the fee. And as each day passed, a further £50 was added due to general ‘administration costs’ for the secure safety of the vehicle.

What I find hard to believe is that the council generally feels that the closure is an unfortunate occurrence, claiming ‘too many people were abiding the law’ and that they are reviewing the situation to help get it back up and running in the future. So effectively they are suggesting that more underhand tactics should be used to get more ‘law abiding’ people to be paying these ridiculous fees so that firms such as these should continue to exist at a determent to not only road users, but the tax payers.

Reviews are urgently and seriously need to be considered to at least, limit the costs.

Certain underhand tactics are deployed by many people, but road traffic solicitors are here to help and instruct you with relevant support and advice regarding any road traffic related incidents

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