New law puts cap on clamping fees

Motorists should not be charged any more than $100 if their vehicle is wheel clamped, following an amendment to the Land Transport Act.

The change took effect in January and the Automobile Association (AA) and Consumer NZ are keen to spread the word to drivers.

“Before the law change, wheel clampers could charge any fee they liked,” says Mark Stockdale, AA’s principal adviser regulations. “Fees of $200 were common and in some cases were much higher than that. The new law makes it an offence for wheel clampers to charge more than $100.”

The AA and Consumer NZ have long advocated for regulation of the private parking sector, including wheel clamping, and are welcoming the new law.

They suggest any motorist who faces a fee of more than $100 to release a clamp should remind the operator of the rules. If they are still being asked to pay more, they should contact police on www.police.govt.nz/use-105, or phone the non-emergency 105 number.

Wheel clamping companies can be fined up to $15,000 for breaching the law.