DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL’S parking appeals officer has recommended increasing the price of de-clamping cars by at least €50 to €130.

In his report, appeals officer William Keilthy says that the current €80 price was introduced in 1998 and hasn’t been increased since.

In real terms, he says, the value of that clamp removal fee has decreased 25 per cent on its real value, and hence by 25 per cent “in its deterrent effect”.

Keilthy writes that clamping has two purposes: firstly, to deter motorists from non-compliant traffic and parking measures, and secondly to recovery the cost of the enforcement service.

The report says that 58,575 vehicles were clamped, relocated and clamped or removed to the pound. Of these cases, just 5 per cent were appealed.

The main issue contended in the appeals was the visibility of the valid park and display ticket and motorists who proved they had a valid ticket were given a 50 per cent refund of the de-clamping cost “as a gesture of goodwill because they had made an effort to comply with the regulations by purchasing a ticket”, according to the report.

Of the 2,890 appeals decided last year, a quarter (761 cases) were accepted and the motorist involved received a full refund of the clamp release fees. Meanwhile, 318 of the 2,129 appeals which were declined.

The report recommends a different approach to the display of tickets because they sometimes overturn or fall to the floor of the vehicle when the door is closed. “The adhesive label solution does not work reliably as demonstrated in Dublin in previous years,” the report says.

The council’s strategic policy committee is meeting on 25 April to discuss the report.