Ticketless parking fines have been abolished after a huge backlash, and traditional paper parking tickets are being reintroduced in their place.
The ticketless system, which was introduced on a trial basis in May 2020, sparked criticism from motorists who felt it was unfair.
If drivers break parking rules with the ticketless system, they won’t find out for weeks until they receive a fine letter in the mail. This delay made it difficult for them to challenge the fine.
NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos contacted councils across the state this week and ordered them to return to using paper tickets when issuing parking fines. and banned future councils from introducing the scheme.
“Notifying drivers immediately is the right thing to do and takes an important first step in restoring community confidence in the administration of the penalty system,” she wrote.
‘This could be as simple as a note, which could take the form of a standardized, pre-printed card, stating that a fine has been issued.
“Doing so will allow drivers to take their own photos and record relevant details.”
Ticketless parking fines will be scrapped in NSW after public outcry
Finance Minister Courtney Houssos told all municipalities to stop using the ticketless system as it eroded public confidence
The note left on the driver’s windshield did not have to be the violation itself, Ms. Houssos wrote, but should “at least” let people know a fine is coming.
Ticketless fines have proven hugely profitable for the government, according to findings from Revenue NSW.
As of 2023, municipalities across the state raised $236 million through the plan in 2023, a huge boost from the pre-ticketless system.
Nearly $140 million was raised through the 749,000 ticketless fines.
Before the pilot phase was rolled out, municipalities collected just $198 million in revenue from parking fines in 2018.
NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury has been a vocal opponent of the ticketless parking rule.
“If motorists only learn weeks later that they have been fined, it takes away the transparency of the plan and motorists cannot obtain their own evidence.” he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘It is also not a deterrent. “When you park at the beach and you see parking tickets on people’s windshields, it reminds people that parking enforcement officers are around and they need to do the right thing.”