Councils rake in £53m profits from a record 580,000 parking fines
SCOTLAND’S motorists are being hammered by increasing numbers of parking fines – while local authorities rake in record profits.
Council bosses have now been accused of treating drivers as ‘cash cows’ after raking in £53 million in profits last year.
A total of 580,222 fines were issued, up 14 per cent in two years. This means the average fine amount was £91.
The number of fines issued for driving in bus lanes rose by 26 per cent in a year, up to 191,290.
Last night, motoring groups demanded a better return for the huge sums drivers hand over – especially given the state of Scotland’s pothole-scarred roads.
neil Greig, director of policy at road safety charity IAM Roadsmart, said: ‘When you get to that level of income, there can be no incentive to improve car parking signing, to improve information, to do anything to reduce the number of penalty charges issued.
‘In an ideal world, you should not want to be issuing any parking charges, because regulations are clearly understood.
‘We are always told any money raised from parking would go back into transport, but it’s very difficult to trace, especially when you look at the state of the roads – the number of potholes is as bad as ever, and the backlog is growing.’
Campaigners have urged councils to stop penalising drivers, especially when town and city centre shops hope to encourage them to return to high streets when the pandemic eases. John o’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Many people use their cars to visit shops, bringing much-needed trade to the high street.
‘While councils are right to fine people for illegal parking, they shouldn’t see drivers simply as cash cows to generate revenue.’
In Scotland, parking has been decriminalised – meaning it has been put in council rather than police hands – in 21 out of 32 local authorities, with three more set to follow suit.
According to a Transport Scotland report, decriminalised Parking Enforcement, this has been a profitable move for councils.
The number of penalty charge notices issued rose from 507,087 in 2017-18 to 556,988 in 2018-19, then up to 580,222 last year.
Fines issued from bus l ane enforcement cameras, used in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, increased from 151,469 in 2018-19 to 191,290 last year – up 26 per cent.
Edinburgh collcted the highest profit, almost £24 million – the difference between revenue from fines and pay and display, and the costs of running the system.
Glasgow recorded a profit of more than £16 million, and Aberdeen more than £5 million.
The Transport Scotland report states all profits should be used to fund ‘certain transport-related purposes’, such as public transport or road improvements.
However, when asked about this, the umbrella body representing councils, Cosla, suggested it is used for broader council services.
A spokesman said: ‘Many local authorities took the decision to suspend parking fees at the start of the lockdown in March.
‘Where local authorities have decided to reintroduce them, the income will go to support council services and help make them viable for the benefit of our local communities.
‘Parking charges are also critical to manage demand and ensure there is availability and turnover of spaces for those who need them.’
‘Should not see drivers simply as a cash cow’