Clamping refund most likely for those who failed to display

MOTORISTS WHO paid their parking fee but simply failed to display their tickets properly are among those most likely to receive a refund of their clamping fine from the Dublin city parking appeals officer.

In his annual report to Dublin City Council, independent appeals officer Liam Keilthy said there had been a “remarkable” increase in recent years in the number of appeals against clamping contractors Dublin Street Parking Services, given that incidents of clamping were falling.

His report noted the cost of running the service was almost twice the clamping fine charged to motorists, with compliant motorists subsidising those who parked illegally.

More than half a million cars have been clamped or towed for illegal parking in Dublin since 2002.

Motorists who feel they have been unfairly clamped must first appeal to the parking service, but if rejected they can take their grievance to Mr Keilthy. A quarter of those who made second-stage appeals were successful and received a full refund of their clamping or impound charge.

Even when their appeal was declined, most motorists got a full or half refund, with only 24 per cent of all appellants getting no money back at all.

The majority of appellants were those who did buy a ticket but failed to display it correctly because it had fallen from the dashboard.

Fewer than 10 per cent of those appeals were found to be justified, but more than three-quarters of motorists received a 50 per cent refund and just over 5 per cent got no money.

Refunds were also generally given to motorists who were entitled to disabled permits but did not have one displayed; residents who had yet to receive their permits; gardaí who can prove they were on official business; motorists whose cars have been stolen; foreign tourists and motorists who can demonstrate they were Good Samaritans on an errand of mercy.

Motorists who parked illegally but said they were not causing an obstruction and motorists who said they were delayed on important business “got no sympathy” and no refund.

Clamping release fees at €80 have not been increased since they were introduced in the city in 1998.

The service costs in excess of €9 million to run, so to break even the release fee should be €150, Mr Keilthy said.

Clamping and towing incidents had fallen from more than 60,000 in 2007 to 58,000 last year yet there was a “remarkable” increase in appeals of almost 30 per cent over the same period, Mr Keilthy added.

In general he received very few complaints about the manner of clampers, but a small number of incidents of bad language were reported.

If these complaints were “only half true”, they were unacceptable, he said.