Motoring journalist Steve Fowler has launched a scathing attack on the Government's treatment of drivers, claiming motorists are being "bashed" repeatedly with excessive parking fines.
Speaking on GB News, Fowler described the situation as "frankly ridiculous" as plans emerge to increase parking penalties outside London to more than £120.
The proposed increase would mean drivers face harsher penalties than those committing actual crimes.
Under current rules, fines for lower-level offenders who shoplift, commit criminal damage or behave in a drunk and disorderly manner are set at £90.
Steve Fowler has launched a scathing attack on the government's treatment of drivers
GB NEWS
Fowler told GB News: "I mean, us poor motorists every time. Wouldn’t it be lovely I love coming on GB News if we could hear the government say they're going to do something for motorists?
"But no. Bash, bash, bash every time. And this is, frankly, ridiculous. They’re trying to encourage people to get back into town centres, to go out shopping, to support local businesses.
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"And yet, if we stay a little longer than we expected and haven’t paid the right amount for parking, we’re going to get stung with a fine that, as you quite rightly said, is greater than someone committing actual criminal damage.
"This is criminal damage, as far as I’m concerned, what the government is doing to motorists."
He added: "There most definitely is a war on motorists whether it’s congestion charges that are supposed to reduce traffic in town centres, which they certainly don’t, or parking permits every single opportunity is used to squeeze a bit more cash out of law-abiding citizens.
"We’re talking about people who might overstay their parking by 10 or 15 minutes because they’re doing something worthwhile, like supporting a local business and yet, they’re getting stung again.
"Frankly, maybe we should take a leaf out of the French book and start blockading things or whatever it takes.
"We take it on the chin a bit too much as motorists, and maybe we shouldn’t. Unfortunately, we’ve got a little while yet before we can take it out at the ballot box."
Currently, parking tickets issued by councils outside London are capped at either £60 or £70, with most local authorities offering discounts for prompt payment.
The Department for Transport has confirmed it is reviewing these caps following pressure from the Local Government Association (LGA) and the British Parking Association (BPA).
Currently, parking tickets issued by councils outside London are capped at either £60 or £70, with most local authorities offering discounts for prompt payment.
PATransport Minister Lilian Greenwood admitted in Parliament this week that the cap for councils outside London was under review.
The BPA stated: "We have been working with the LGA to bring to ministers' attention that, outside of London, penalty charge notices are too low and have remained unchanged for over 15 years."
The proposed parking fine increases come amid what critics describe as a series of anti-motorist policies implemented during Sir Keir Starmer's first 10 months in office.
These include a £1.7billion tax raid on motorists through increased vehicle excise duty rates, which now also apply to electric vehicles.
