With hundreds of motorists failing to stump up the cash for parking fines, Peterborough City Council is discussing bringing in tough new action to stamp out the problem.

This week The Evening Telegraph revealed that more than £86,000 of parking fines given to foreign-registered vehicles have been written off by the council since 2003.

In fact, only 312 of 1,886 tickets issued to foreign-registered vehicles have actually been paid during that time.

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The lack of an EU-wide vehicle database means officials simply cannot track the culprits responsible.

And 33 per cent of £60 fines issued to UK-registered vehicles have also gone unpaid.

In a bid to shut the loophole, parking attendants could be given handheld numberplate recognition systems allowing them to identify persistent fine dodgers.

It is thought vehicles identified as having three fines which have not been paid within the required time would then be clamped.
Councillor Graham Murphy, cabinet member for environment said: "We are aware there is an issue with a minority of motorists who repeatedly fail to pay their parking fines.

"We are also aware that some people with non-UK registered vehicles are parking illegally and getting away with it because they cannot be traced via the DVLA.

"Persistent evaders' vehicles should be subject to the strongest possible enforcement following the issue of the penalty charge notice and confirmation of persistent evader status.

"Some motorists think they can ignore legal parking restrictions with impunity. However we want to send a clear message to these motorists that their behaviour won't be tolerated and those repeatedly flouting the law should expect tougher action to be taken."

The benefit of removal is that it requires proof of ownership and a registered address before the vehicle is released.

Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson welcomed the move by the city council.

He said: "It's a very good idea and I strongly support it because it will be more of a level playing field for UK registered vehicles and non-UK registered vehicles.

"People will think it fairer and it will obviously bring in revenue to the city council and try to claw back some of the £86,000 lost to city council coffers over the past four years."

New powers given to parking attendants
PARKING attendants will be handed new powers at the end of this month.
New legislation means the renamed "civil enforcement officers" will be able to post penalties to offenders who try to drive away before a ticket can be issued.

Motorists will also face stiffer punishment in some cases, with £70 charges introduced for parking on double yellow lines, in loading bays, residents' and disabled parking areas, taxi ranks and bus stops.
Lower penalties of £50 will be handed to drivers caught
overstaying in on-street parking bays, parking without a ticket and meter-feeders.

The law will also give local authorities the ability to fine drivers spotted flouting parking rules on CCTV.

However, Peterborough City Council said it had no plans to use those powers initially.