ACT parking inspectors have issued more than 87,000 parking tickets to 20 June this financial year, with the City topping the list for infringements and the dollar amount of fines.
According to figures from Access Canberra, 24,957 notices were issued in the City, followed by 8,004 in Phillip, and 5,005 in Belconnen out of a total of 87,477 from 1 July 2017 to 20 June 2018.
The top 10 locations totalled $7,738,045.97 in fines, with the City providing $3,283,636, although this does not mean all of it has been collected.
Phillip also was second for the dollar amount of fines at $1,034,908, while Garran ($623,259.98) and Bruce ($625,524), with its hospital precincts, leapfrogged Belconnen ($595,637) despite fewer fines imposed.
The 2018 Budget papers estimate revenue of $12 million for 2017-18, which is below the 2017 estimate of more than $16 million. The 2018-19 estimate is about $15 million.
There will be the annual 6 per cent rise in penalty amounts but the Government will also deploy two more Licence Plate Recognition cameras, which is faster and more efficient than inspectors on foot.
The number of infringement notices issued via LPR technology totalled 10,729, although the LPR vans only began operating on 4 December 2017. Foot patrol parking inspectors accounted for 76,535 notices.
The number of infringement notices issued for parking in a disabled spot was 2,418 – 2,380 (personal) and 38 (LPR), with stopping on a path/strip in a built-up area accounting for 4,987 notices (3,065 and 1,922 LPR).
There are 23,994 disabled parking permits currently issued and valid as at 20 June 2018.
The top 10 places/suburbs for parking infringements and the amount of fines imposed are:
- City – 24, 957, $3,283,636
- Phillip – 8,004, $1,034,908
- Belconnen – 5,005, $595,637
- Garran – 4,206, $623,259.98
- Bruce – 4,132, $625,524
- Braddon – 3,810, $492,140
- Greenway – 3,237, $386,310.99
- Kingston – 1,888, $247,802
- Turner – 1,832, $212,344
- Griffith – 1,791, $236,484
The new LPR system allows parking officers to capture and record images of parked vehicles to determine if they have overstayed the maximum time limit, parked unlawfully, or are dangerously parked.
LPR cameras can inspect 30 kilometres of roadside parking per hour compared to 1-2 kilometres per hour by parking inspectors on foot.
Drivers identified as parking illegally through LPR are posted an infringement notice, while those detected by inspectors on foot receive the traditional infringement notice in an envelope on the windscreen.