Electronic permits for parking are considered

PAPER parking permits for Cardiff residents could be ditched in favour of a new electronic permit.

Cardiff council is looking at replacing the paper-based parking permits with virtual permits.

It would mean motorists would no longer need to physically display a permit in their vehicles – similar to a switch made by the DVLA for car tax discs in 2015.

Enforcement could be carried out by a fleet of cars with cameras using ANPR technology.

Cardiff council’s environmental scrutiny committee will discuss the idea of introducing virtual parking permits in a meeting on Tuesday.

A report to the committee says: “Work has begun to scope the feasibility of replacing paper parking permits with a new e-permit system.

“This would see motorists register their vehicles for a virtual permit rather than having to display a physical permit in their vehicles.

“This would bring benefits to permit holders in that, unlike a paper permit, an e-permit cannot be lost, stolen or simply forgotten.

“This technology would allow Cardiff council to more efficiently manage the permit system, particularly in resident parking areas, and facilitate changes of address or vehicle more easily than is currently the case.

“Enforcement would be undertaken through the use of the council’s camera car fleet, which would use the ANPR technology installed to alert enforcement teams when an unregistered vehicle is parked in permit holder areas.

“This would mean that enforcement would be quicker and more efficient.”