The revealing word in Britain's parking argument is deterrent. It sounds sensible until the behavior being deterred is trying to use a broken machine.

New rules announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham include canceling charges when payment fails because of faulty ticket equipment, and protection for some honest mistakes and emergencies. The BBC also reports a five-minute decision period and a ten-minute window to leave.

A system that needs explicit instructions not to punish customers for its own broken equipment has supplied a useful account of its priorities.

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The British Parking Association welcomes the changes and defends the £100 level as a deterrent, comparing it with penalties for other misconduct. But a driver cannot be frightened into making a defective machine functional. At £100, it remains broken. The driver is merely more attentive to the fact.

The government is retaining that maximum. Motoring groups welcome improvements but want stronger protection, action on debt-recovery fees and independent appeals. Those remaining demands matter: a right to contest a charge still leaves someone doing the contesting.

Operators that breach the new code risk losing access to DVLA data, making owners harder to pursue. That gets closer to the relevant incentive.

The payment system may struggle to recognize your registration. The collection system would very much like to keep knowing your address.