Drivers Face £170 Fines Due to Faulty Parking Machines Across England

Thousands of drivers across England are receiving parking fines of up to £170 from private parking firms due to faulty ticket machines, with campaigners attributing many cases to 'sticky keys' that fail to correctly record vehicle registration numbers. Despite entering their details properly, motorists have reported receiving parking charge notices (PCNs), and their appeals are often rejected even when they provide evidence, such as tickets with incomplete or incorrect registrations. Many affected drivers feel pressured to pay the fines to avoid the stress of potential court action, while some, like business owner Matt Chambers, continue to challenge the charges, asserting they followed all required procedures. Campaigners argue that some machines seem 'set up to trap people,' and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has called the issue 'a problem that needs to be tackled.' The RAC has joined calls for the government to reintroduce a code of conduct for private parking companies to ensure fairer practices and appeals. The widespread nature of these complaints highlights ongoing concerns about accountability and transparency in the private parking industry.