Wheel clamping crackdown not enough - Dog and Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson

  • 23/08/2018

A consumer advocate has argued the Government's wheel clamping crackdown does not go far enough and the practice needs further regulation.

Dog and Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson told The AM Show clamping operators are crooks that take advantage of people.

"They're crooks, I mean they [patrol] very badly signposted car parks quite often," he said.

"I mean in Ponsonby a courier screeched up, dropped off a package, came out he'd been clamped and was charged $700 to remove the clamp."

The Government announced on Wednesday maximum charge for a removal of a wheel clamp will become $100.

Police can fine individuals up to $1000 if they charge more, and companies can be fined up to $5000. If the matter goes to the courts, individuals can be fined up to $3000 and companies $15,000.

The new measures will be brought in through an amendment to the Land Transport Act 1998. The Government plans to introduce the legislation to Parliament this year.

But Mr Matthew-Wilson wants the Government to go further.

"In England, Scotland and Wales they're completely banned except under certain circumstances so if they can do it there why can't we just ban it here?" he said.

"Bottom line is this, both National Party and the Labour Party are terrified of being seen as anti-business so they don't do the obvious like stop leaky buildings or bloody wheel clampers."

He said the lowered fee is nice, but its' entirely possible that clampers could move to trapping more people and it should be controlled like the towing industry.

"I don't have a problem with parking enforcement, it's got to happen or else cities grind to a halt," he said.

"But you've got a bunch of crooks that are completely unregulated, that clamp your car and say 'what are you gonna do about it', often unfairly.

"They need to have the same level of regulation that the towing industry has now."

Newshub.