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Fine-free parking tickets have been scrapped following a massive backlash and traditional paper parking tickets are being reintroduced in their place.
The ticketless system, introduced on a trial basis in May 2020, drew criticism from motorists who argued it was unfair.
If drivers broke parking rules under the ticket-free system, they didn’t find out for weeks until they received a ticket 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 to order them to return to using paper tickets when issuing parking tickets. and prohibited future councils from introducing the plan.
“Providing immediate notification to drivers is the right thing to do and is an important first step in restoring community confidence in the administration of the ticket system,” he wrote.
“This could be as simple as a note, which could take the form of a standardized pre-printed card, indicating that a fine has been imposed.
“Doing so… will allow drivers to take their own photographs and note down relevant details.”
Fine parking fines to be scrapped in NSW after public outcry
Finance Minister Courtney Houssos told all councils to stop using the ticketless system because it was eroding public confidence.
The note left on drivers’ windshields doesn’t have to be the violation itself, Ms. Houssos wrote, but “at a minimum” it should inform people that a fine is coming.
Fine-free fines have proven to be hugely profitable for the government, according to Revenue NSW findings.
In 2023, councils across the state raised $236 million through the scheme, which was a huge boost to the ticketless system.
Nearly $140 million was raised through the 749,000 tickets with no tickets issued.
Before the trial phase was implemented, councils alone collected $198 million in revenue from parking fines in 2018.
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury has been an outspoken opponent of the ticket-free parking rule.
“If motorists find out that they have been fined weeks later, the transparency of the plan is lost and motorists are prevented from obtaining their own evidence,” he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘Nor is it a deterrent. If you park on the beach and see parking tickets on people’s windshields, it reminds them that parking officers are about to do the right thing.’