About the Approved Operator Scheme
The Approved Operator Scheme (AOS) is a scheme launched for BPA members in October 2007. The AOS is designed specifically for those BPA members that are involved in parking enforcement services on private land or in unregulated public car parks. Operators may conduct a wide range of services in this sector, including but not limited to: wheelclamping and vehicle removal, or enforcement by ticketing or Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, or services such as back office functions, data management and debt recovery.
The AOS is supported by the BPA Code of Practice for Parking Enforcement on Private Land and Unregulated Car Parks.
DVLA Vehicle Keeper data access
In 2007, the DVLA announced a number of changes to the way in which they allowed access to Vehicle Keeper data. One of the key changes is that any company/organisation that accesses Vehicle Keeper data via an electronic request process that is not a Local Authority or Government Organisation must be a member of an Accredited Trade Association (ATA). This change came into effect from 01 October 2007, via the launch of the AOS.
The BPA welcomed the change but called for further restriction, as the change did not refer to postal applications from operators. In 2009, the DVLA published a consultation to close the loophole and from 23 November 2009, all operators that request information that accesses vehicle keeper data whether electronically or by post must either be a member of an accredited Trade Association (ATA), or be regulated by government or legislation.
One condition of an ATA is that they have a Code of Practice in place. Since the DVLA announcement, the BPA has been working with DVLA and has now achieved ATA status and shares with DVLA all plans for the AOS.
We are pleased that BPA is the first (and currently only) ATA for the industry and that DVLA fully support and endorse our scheme.