WHEEL CLAMPERS will be banned from charging exorbitant release fees and required to display signs, under a code of conduct agreed yesterday.

It is intended to protect the 500,000 motorists who are clamped on private land each year and charged up to £750 to recover their vehicles. Under the rules, drawn up by the British Parking Association, clamps are to be removed within two hours of payment and the fee must not exceed £125. Vehicles should only be removed under “very special circumstances” and the maximum penalty for recovery from a pound should be £250, with a storage fee of up to £35 a day.

When a vehicle is clamped and removed, drivers who contact the clamping company within three hours cannot be charged both a release fee and a recovery fee. The company must take a picture of the vehicle, proving that a warning sign was visible.

Cars used by health workers on call who display a badge should not be clamped. Companies that repeatedly contravene the code may be ejected from the association and stand to lose contracts. It has been adopted by 20 companies, including Excel Parking, Euro Car Parks, Apcoa, Vinci Park and Stone Security. Between them, they cover most of the supermarket and hospital car parks where clamping takes place. A hundred small operators have yet to sign up.

For the past year anyone who clamps a vehicle or demands release fees from drivers has had to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority. That scheme does not set rules on fees, signs or evidence.Clamping on private land is banned in Scotland.

PARKING PAINS

February 2006: A disabled motorist had to pay £314 to prevent her car being towed from outside her daughter’s flat in East London, despite having her disabled badge on display

February 2006: A motorbike was clamped on a petrol station forecourt in West London while the rider was inside getting directions. Release cost £265

December 2005: A woman bought a ticket to park in a bay beside a prominent pay and display sign on Town Quay, Southampton. She was clamped and charged £115 for release because small print under the sign said that the bay was reserved 8am-6pm

November 2005: A motorist was clamped in Hendon, North London, in a private car park with a sign saying the release fee was £85. The clamper charged £85 for the clamp and £250 for the tow truck he arrived in