All car clamping in Cork should be banned completely whether in public or private spaces.

That is the view of a Fine Gael council election candidate, who is calling on his party and government to amend the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 to allow local councils to make bylaws on clamping.

Shane O’Callaghan, a candidate for City Hall seat in the South Central ward, said Ireland should follow the lead of other countries like Scotland in outlawing clamping completely.

“In 2012, Cork City Council ended the practice of clamping vehicles on public roads and streets in Cork City,” Mr O’Callaghan said. 

“However, in recent years, vehicle clamping in private car parks has become a lucrative money-making exercise by private clamping companies that is of little or no benefit to the public interest.”

Clamping in private car parks is governed by the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015.

This Act gives the National Transport Authority the power to regulate all clamping that takes place in private car parks.

“I believe that it would make much more sense for clamping to be regulated locally by City and County Councils instead of nationally by the National Transport Authority. This could be achieved by making a few simple amendments to the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“I believe that it would make much more sense for clamping to be regulated locally by City and County Councils instead of nationally by the National Transport Authority.

“This could be achieved by making a few simple amendments to the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015.”

“Cork City Council could then make a number of Bye-Laws banning all clamping in Cork City, including clamping in private car parks.” Mr O’Callaghan pointed to the example set by other countries where clamping in private car parks was banned in Scotland in 1992 and in England in 2012.

“If a car is wrongfully parked in a private car park then, instead of putting a clamp on the car, the car park owner should only be allowed to issue a Parking Charge Notice demanding that the sum of €40 be paid within 28 days.

“This would ensure that parking in private car parks is still regulated while at the same time ending all clamping and the excessive fees and long waits that go with it.”