In a move that is seen as a victory for motorists across New South Wales (NSW), the controversial ticketless parking fine system has been officially scrapped.
This decision comes after a widespread backlash from the public, who criticised the system for its lack of fairness and transparency. The NSW government, responding to the outcry, has announced the reintroduction of traditional paper parking tickets, marking the end of a trial that left many drivers frustrated and out of pocket.
Introduced in May 2020, the ticketless parking system was designed to modernise the process of issuing parking fines. However, it soon became apparent that the system was flawed.
Motorists who inadvertently violated parking regulations often remained unaware of their infractions for weeks until a fine letter arrived in the mail. This delay not only made it challenging for drivers to recall the circumstances of the violation but also significantly hindered their ability to contest the fines effectively.
The system’s inefficiency and perceived unfairness prompted NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos to take decisive action.
She contacted councils across the state, mandating a return to the use of paper tickets for parking fines and prohibiting any future adoption of the ticketless system by councils.
Emphasising the need for transparency and immediate communication with motorists, Ms. Houssos said, “Providing immediate notification to drivers is the right thing to do and is an important first step to restoring community trust in the administration of the fines system.”
Under the new directives, drivers will now receive a physical note on their windscreen, alerting them to the issuance of a fine.
This note, which may take the form of a standardised, pre-printed card, is not required to detail the infringement itself but must, at a minimum, inform the driver that a fine is forthcoming.
Revenue Boon
The ticketless system, while initially seen as a technological advancement, proved to be a lucrative revenue stream for the government.According to findings from Revenue NSW, councils across the state collected $236 million (US$156 million) in 2023 through the scheme, a significant increase from the $198 million collected from parking fines in 2018, before the trial’s implementation.
The system saw nearly 749,000 ticketless fines issued.
Critics of the ticketless system, such as NRMA Insurance Australia spokesman Peter Khoury, have long argued that the lack of immediate notification of the ticketless system and also pointed out that physical fines serve as a visual deterrent, reminding drivers to adhere to parking regulations.
“If motorists only learn they have been fined weeks later, it takes away the transparency of the scheme and stops motorists from getting their own evidence.
“It is also not a deterrent. If you park at the beach and you see parking fines on peoples’ windscreens, it reminds people that parking officers are about and to do the right thing,” he said.
