26/03/2012

Clamping Laws Set For Reform

Clamping laws could be overhauled under new proposals from a Dail committee.

Politician are considering a new proposal that if a motorist returns to their vehicle before the clamping process is finished, parking enforcement officers will have to remove it without imposing a release fee.

The Dail Transport Committee will issue a series of recommendations this week on regulating the clamping industry, which will also include a proposal to ban the use of wheel clamps at hospitals.

They will also consider introducing an independent appeals process, a ban on companies charging more to release vehicles than the local authority rates and having all clamping staff subjected to garda vetting.

They will also consider introducing an independent appeals process, a ban on companies charging more to release vehicles than the local authority rates and having all clamping staff subjected to garda vetting.

Chair of the committee, Labour TD Ciaran Lynch, said they would meet again this week to finalise a series of legislative changes on regulating the industry.

"Clamping should only be operated as an enforcement tool but some operators in the past have been overly zealous in their clamping of cars and this is to curtail it," he said last night.

(H)


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