The British Parking Association has clapped back at drivers who "blatantly and proudly" post parking violations on social media.
The trade association warned that anyone who boasts about parking infringements online should expect to be sanctioned accordingly for flouting the rules.
The warning comes after a rise of social media posts, predominantly on TikTok, showed drivers bragging about how many tickets they have as they claim it's easier than paying for parking.
In one example, a TikToker referred to a parking fine as the "cost for having VIP parking", which was just a rouse for parking in a disabled bay without a Blue Badge.
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Some drivers have filmed themselves parking in disabled bays without Blue Badges on social media
PAThe TikToker said he has paid more than £7,000 in parking fines over the past 12 months, with little remorse shown for those who may have been affected by his actions.
However, the trade association is less impressed with the huge sum of parking fines and the reckless behaviour on display.
Isaac Occhipinti from the BPA, remarked: “It is becoming far too common to see people treating parking violations as some kind of joke or fair game to ignore.
“The problem is that the victims of this behaviour are the normal, law-abiding motorists. We all abhor these actions and it’s about time those in power and in the media came out and condemned it as well.”
The BPA stated that it is constantly seeing misleading press and TV reports about private parking operators and local authorities.
Occhipinti said the repeated attacks on the legality and importance of the work the parking management company carries out every day is an issue.
This is despite the fact that only around 0.3 per cent of parking events result in a fixed penalty notice for the driver.
Occhipinti said: “We all have a responsibility to drive and park in full consideration of others, and those that don’t should expect to be sanctioned accordingly.
“We urge politicians, motoring groups and the media to start recognising this and not indirectly encourage the worst kind of behaviours we are now witnessing.”
The plea follows reports that motorists around the UK were hit with more than 35,000 parking tickets a day by private companies between April and December last year.
Each ticket can cost up to £100 for parking fines with the private companies raking in thousands for infringements.
Analysis of Government data by the RAC Foundation found that 9.7 million tickets were issued to drivers by private parking companies in Britain between April and December last year.
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Each ticket can cost up to £100 for parking fines
GETTYIf drivers were fined £100 every time a private parking warden sent off a request to the DVLA, and drivers didn’t appeal, they would have spent £520million in 2020/21 on parking fines and more than £1billion in 2022/23.