Government plans to regulate private parking charges

mbl.is reports that the infrastructure minister plans to amend traffic laws to clarify the rules for private companies charging for parking and strengthen the position of the public in disputes with parking operators.

The proposed bill is intended to address problems linked to charges imposed by private companies at car parks. It would update provisions on parking and extend them to cover charges collected by private operators.

Private companies including Parka and EasyPark have been found by the Consumer Agency to have breached current laws. The agency has reached that conclusion several times in relation to legislation governing business practices and marketing.

The proposals would also strengthen the rights of holders of parking cards for people with disabilities to park free of charge in spaces where parking fees apply.

In addition, the government plans to examine whether vehicle owners should bear strict liability for speeding offences committed in their vehicles. The change would aim to make it easier to collect fines when the driver is a foreign national, as such collection can be time-consuming and costly.

Officials also intend to consider changes to the traffic law provisions governing the withdrawal of driving rights, following recent changes to the validity period of driving licences for older drivers. The aim is to ensure that road safety is not reduced by those changes.

The bill is expected to be submitted to Alþingi in November.