Tough parking policy pays

Press, 29 June 1983, Page 1

Tough parking policy pays

Stricter city centre parking enforcement by the Christchurch City Council is starting to show in statistics. The council’s public utilities committee was told yesterday that May infringement fees had risen $10,115, to $31,795, from the previous year. There were no statistics yet about fines from cases which went to court, since that stage had not yet been reached. The May revenue from parking meters was also up. It had increased $5152, to $37,756. More drivers received offence notices for such infringements as parking on yellow broken lines, parking in loading zones, and parking in spaces reserved for the disabled. During May, 6682 infringement notices were issued for parking at expired meters, compared with 4490 notices in April. Over all, 8524 notices were issued in May, compared with 5616 in April. Of the April notices, 3253 had fees paid within 21 days. The City Council has suggested a system of increased infringement fees, with discounts to the pre-

sent level for early payment, but that cannot be done during the price freeze.

According to the Ministry of Transport, that suggestion will be considered after the freeze. Mr G. N. Stevenson, the parking division superintendent, said that enforcement that increased shortterm parking spaces in the streets was welcomed by both retailers and shoppers.