Industry overhaul could see end to hospital clamping

The practice of clamping vehicles outside hospitals would be scrapped while clampers would have to engage in an appeals process under proposals to overhaul the industry.

A report submitted to the transport minister by an Oireachtas committee also calls for clamping on private property to be regulated in the same way as local authority clamping, with similar fees to apply.

It calls for a ban on the clamping of vehicles in “sensitive locations” such as hospital car parks and would also allow clamping companies to access some information on the National Vehicle Register.

That proposal was welcomed by the Irish Patients’ Association. The proposal to rein in clamping in private housing estates was criticised by the Irish Property Owners’ Association.

The measures could be made law in two months. The report was compiled by the joint committee on environment, transport, culture, and the Gaeltacht.

Launching the report yesterday, committee chairman Ciarán Lynch claimed it was time the sector was properly regulated to boost shopping in towns and cities.

“I want people to come into our cities and town centres to shop,” he said. “There is a voluntary code of conduct [for clampers] — we are talking about making it mandatory.”

He said this would mean a standardised appeals process, and equalisation of fines and fees.

For example, there would be a national minimum release fee, and private operators in housing estates would have to apply the same fees and charges as those that apply to local authorities.

The private clamping firms would also have to engage in the same appeals process and follow the same regulations.

Committee member Catherine Murphy said: “I do not think we would be doing this if we did not feel that this is an area that needs to be legislated and regulated.”

On limited access to the National Vehicle Register being provided to clamping firms, Mr Lynch said this would mean certain cars, such as those parked outside hospitals, would not need to be clamped, but the driver could still receive a fine in the post.

Among the 38 proposals in the report is one saying there should be a specific timeframe for the release of a vehicle on payment of the release fee. If the vehicle is not released in that timeframe the motorist is not charged, it states.

* Full report available at: http://exa.mn/4f