The new Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014 has been welcomed by Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton which seeks to regulate clamping, for the first time, on both public and private lands.
“I am pleased to see a number of important measures being introduced in this legislation such as setting a maximum clamping release charge and also the establishment of a two tier clamping appeals process which will help to ensure better regulation of clamping and allow anyone with a genuine grievance to have a chance to challenge any unfair treatment. I do believe that clamping should really be a last resort in most cases.
Speaking on the Bill in Dail Eireann Deputy Stanton also called for much tougher penalties for motorists who illegally park in disabled parking spaces.
“People who park illegally in disabled parking spaces are at best careless and at worst inconsiderate. Anyone doing this causes extreme inconvenience to wheelchair users and other disabled drivers or disabled passengers whose mobility can be very severely restricted. The excuse “I was only there for a minute” is unacceptable full stop. I believe anyone illegally parking in these spaces should face automatic clamping with full penalties applied”, said Deputy Stanton.