25 May 2012

Councils handing out higher number of parking tickets


Laura Sharman

Local councils are handing out more parking tickets – raising more than £234m a year – despite reducing the number of traffic wardens, according to new figures.

The figures, obtanined by Swiftcover following a freedom of information request, found a total of 6.8m tickets were issued last year - the equivalent of one every 4.6 seconds.

Westminster council issued 461,000 of these tickets alone, with Liverpool City Council handed out the most fines (146,000) outside the capital. On average, each council handed out 74,257 fines in 2011, compared with 72,367 in 2010.

Robin Reames, chief claims officer at Swiftcover, said: ‘Shortage of parking has become a huge issue in towns and cities across the UK in the past five to 10 years. However, this doesn't excuse illegal parking.’

The figures also show that while one in four tickets were disputed, only 39% of those who appealed were successful.



Your comments

Often the increase in number of PCN's issued is due to more authorities taking on CPE powers from the police. Any other increase is down to the activities of motorists, don't contravene the regulations and you will not get a PCN, in the unlikely event that you do get one unfairly there is an adjudiction service which is free to appeal to! Regarding the private sector, anything can happen with no opportunity to challenge! I know which I prefer. Swiftcover, increased car ownership is the problem

Graham, Added: Tuesday, 29 May 2012 12:00 PM

Parking fines are simply a revenue stream for local authorities. Many parking controls encourage contravention, such as locations convenient to local shops and services. If ?illegal? parking is such a high priority, requiring a massive national industry to control it, why not make it an endorseable offence attracting 3 points. That would cure 90% of the problem overnight. The truth is Council?s do not want to reduce so called?illegal? parking.

Old cynic, London , Added: Monday, 28 May 2012 03:23 PM

Yes, they are rather zealous. I received one while working for the council, at council premises, with a council permit on display, which I was assured by staff was valid for the space I was in. Incomprehensible! I appealed and lost. How can this happen???

Astonished employee, at a nameless North East Council , Added: Friday, 25 May 2012 01:29 PM



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