Motorists’ groups have accused councils of using motorists as a “cash cow” after town halls raked in more than £6 million in parking fines over the past year.
Findings published by the TaxPayers’ Alliance and the Drivers’ Alliance showed the total collected by Kent’s 12 district and borough councils, and Medway, in 2008-09 was £6,399,532.
The fines are levied for people parking illegally, such as on double yellow lines, and drivers who overstay on parking meters.
Fines range from £50-70 and are halved if drivers pay up within two weeks.
Despite this being £900,999 less than the previous year, representatives from driving groups slammed the authorities for using motorists as a “money-making scheme” through on-street and off-street parking enforcement.
Ian Taylor, spokesman for the Association of British Drivers in Kent, said councils are using the county’s motorists as a cash cow.
“They’ve had the sense not to push it further in the recession and we’re thankful that some councils have frozen charges and offered free parking in some areas. But local authorities should not use fines to make money.
“We know they are worried about government grants being cut and so they are obviously concerned about funding, but at the same time they can’t rely on motorists to bring money in.
“We understand people can’t just park where they like and block roads and entrances, there has to be a penalty for that – I personally think perhaps the police should enforce it.
“But councils use these penalties as part of their crusade to curtail car use and bring in funds. They estimate how much they will make each year out of penalty charge notices and use it as part of their budget.
“If everyone became a law-abiding citizen I wonder what this would do to their finances.”
Mr Taylor said part of the problem is the high charges councils levy in car parks across the county.
“In some cases it’s cheaper to park in commercial car parks,” he said. “I live in Dover and the car park behind the Charlton Centre is commercially run and charges are almost half the price of the council-run car parks.”
Councils say the cash raised from fines is used to pay for parking services.
Figures showed Maidstone, Medway Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells councils brought in the most money from parking penalties.
However, Maidstone, Medway and Tunbridge Wells have seen a drop in the number of fines issued in the past year. But Canterbury City Council has risen by £18,098.
Parking services manager Clive Metcalfe denied that Canterbury council was using motorists to make money. “It is grossly inaccurate to suggest that issuing of penalty charge notices is designed for this purpose,” he said.
“Penalty charge notices the council distribute have fallen since the council took over the service in 2000, along with the number of staff engaged in the process. They are only issued when a contravention of regulations occur.”
He said money collected from on-street parking fines contributed to the cost of providing the parking service, which is carried out on behalf of Kent County Council.
He added: “Income from off-street parking fines is controlled and managed by the city council and goes towards its general revenue account. It’s not a money spinner.
A spokesman from Sevenoaks District Council, where figures showed a rise of £19,507 in fines since last year, said they are issued to people who have chosen to park illegally.
“Local councils, business groups and residents have told us the additional enforcement has drastically improved parking problems in their communities,” he said.
He added: “It is difficult to compare income between 2007-08 and 2008-09, as the pricing structure for penalty charge notices was significantly altered by central government during this period. The cost for less serious offences was reduced, while the cost of more serious contraventions saw an increase. The income generated by penalty charge notices helps to pay towards the council’s parking services.”
These include payments for civil enforcement officers and putting restrictions and parking bays in place.
But Peter Roberts, chief executive of the Drivers’ Alliance, insists parking enforcement across the UK has become a massive money-making industry.
“We are seeing unscrupulous and target- driven enforcement of parking laws where the penalties far outweigh the offence,” he said.
POSTED: 29/11/2009 09:00:00
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