The council’s new vehicle removals policy for drivers who don’t pay their parking tickets has netted 23 vehicles in just one week of operations.
The policy, which came into force on 28 July, means the council will remove vehicles where there are three or more unpaid parking fines related to it.
In just the one week following the launch, the council removed 23 vehicles from the streets including in Chalvey, the Diamond Road estate and from the High Street and surrounding areas.
Of those vehicles removed, one had racked up a total of 134 unpaid tickets, another had 117 tickets outstanding, and seven others had more than 30 tickets each still waiting to be paid.
None of the vehicles removed had fewer than eight outstanding tickets.
Other vehicles with outstanding tickets were also targeted, however owners promptly paid the fines owed meaning their vehicles were not removed.
Councillor Paul Kelly, lead member for lead member for planning, parking, highways and transport, said: “Illegal parking is not only inconsiderate but antisocial. It blocks roads, causes congestion, causes no end of safety problems and is extremely frustrating for other road users.
“Imagine paying for a parking permit only to find someone who doesn’t have one is constantly parking in the limited space available, but despite receiving parking ticket after parking ticket, keeps on doing it.
“The policy we have brought in tackles this problem by literally removing those offending vehicles from the streets, forcing drivers to pay the fines they owe or lose their cars forever.”
He added: “The vast majority of people, if they are caught parking illegally, put their hands up and pay the fine.
“But as the first week’s figures show, there are repeat offenders who think they can park where they want, when they want and not pay any price. Now that price is their vehicle.”
Some of the types of parking that will get you a penalty charge notice (parking ticket):
- parking in a restricted street during prescribed hours
- parking or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force
- parking in a suspended bay or space or part of a space
- parking in a special enforcement area more than 50cm from the edge of the carriageway and not within a designated parking place
- stopping on a restricted bus stop or stand
- stopping in a restricted area outside a school when prohibited.
- stopping on a pedestrian crossing or crossing area marked by zigzags.
All the vehicles removed are being stored at a secure compound until the original fines and storage costs are paid then being released to their owners.