Disbelief as council uses loophole to let learner driver parking wardens fine drivers who pass their tests

A Labor council is using a loophole to let learner driver parking wardens fine motorists who have already passed their tests.

Civilian enforcers travel on mopeds without a full license to roam the streets of south-west London and catch drivers.

Lambeth Council has been criticized for using a ‘loophole’ to get more wardens on the street quickly to collect £35m a year in parking fines using mopeds.

Guards who are 18 years of age and over are employed with CBT certificates – i.e. compulsory basic training – through a private contract with the parking company Apcoa, according to The telegraph.

The course, which is one day long, does not require a full practical theory test and teaches a low level of moped driving skills.

Pensioner Richard Hughes, who has been driving for 40 years, said it was ‘a bit strange’ to be ticketed by a learner driver after he parked in Abbeville Village, Clapham, to collect food for his grandson.

“It appears that there are loopholes and weaknesses in the system that mean it’s beneficial for them to be learners rather than having passed their test,” he said.

A warden on a student moped issued a ticket to an unmanned car about two minutes after it arrived, The Telegraph noted.

The bumper car was also reportedly parked in a suspended bay with its L-plate half-up.

Lambeth Council is understood to be one of several councils using mopeds to issue parking fines.

An Apcoa spokesman said: “Along with foot patrols, scooters offer a low emission and versatile means for CEOs to carry out their duties in a large borough – 80 per cent of Apcoa scooters operating in Lambeth are electric.”

Civilian enforcers travel on mopeds without a full license to roam the streets of south-west London and catch drivers (Stock photo)

“These vehicles are driven in accordance with licensing and DVLA regulations and the entire Apcoa fleet is insured under a commercial agreement.”

A Lambeth Council spokesman said: ‘Our parking services help keep the streets of our busy inner London borough safe and convenient. We use foot patrols and electric scooters to effectively achieve this, all in accordance with relevant legislation.

‘Penalty charge notices are only issued to people who break the rules and there are no targets attached to this work.’

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “Penalty charges for parking in London are set by the Mayor of London so this is a matter for Lambeth Council and TfL (Transport for London) but we expect all enforcement officers operating a motor vehicle to comply with the law.’