Would you rather be clamped or towed?

The Herald reports:

Wheel clamping in New Zealand is set to become a thing of the past with a new code of conduct that aims to almost eliminate the practice.

An industry working group is preparing to release the new code, which places clamping at the end of options for private companies working in parking enforcement.

This is good.

The key element to the new code was a “hierarchy of enforcement options”, led by a “breach notice” – what most people would call a “ticket”, he said.

“The breach notice should be the main enforcement tool for most parking operators. It’s the most effective tool while also balancing the need to provide a fair enforcement penalty for motorists.” Fairness in cost was a critical factor and “no one can justify $200” – the maximum clamping penalty, he said.

“It’s vastly more expensive [than a breach notice] and it doesn’t free up a parking space.”

Under the next option, companies would call in a tow truck, which would free up parking spaces in congested areas.

“You would only use a wheel clamp for repeat offenders where they are not causing an obstruction. That is going to be a change in the way some companies operate because their approach is to use a wheel clamp only.”

The hierarchy makes sense – especially that just a breach notice or ticket should be the standard response.

If it is a choice between being clamped or towed, I’d rather be clamped. However if you are causing an obstruction, then towing is the appropriate response.