Drivers parking illegally will face a much steeper fine from today, as new rates for infringements kick in to keep up with inflation.<\/p>\n
But Auckland’s mayor wants the government to go further, and says the council should be able to set its own fines.<\/p>\n
Parking fines have not changed since 2004, and in many places they barely cover the cost of towing a vehicle.<\/p>\n
The fines are set by the government under the Land Transport Act, while parking is policed by local authorities.<\/p>\n
A driver parking without paying would have been charged $40 on Monday – that has been hiked to $70 from Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown wants the increases to go further, and told the Minister of Transport in a July letter that adjusting fines to inflation would not stop people parking illegally.<\/p>\n
“While increasing the fees by CPI may be technically implementable, the fees will still be completely inadequate to encourage compliance and enable effective enforcement It’s my impression that the Ministry of Transport is not capable of helping in this debate by merely tinkering with things.<\/p>\n
“Many Aucklanders, including people I know, do not regularly pay for parking because the fines are so low.”<\/p>\n
He said fines in Auckland had reason to be higher than in the rest of the country.<\/p>\n
“As I have said several times, the idea that the maximum fine should still be the same in Auckland and Gore is pathetic.”<\/p>\n
Brown urged the Minister to “loosen the Ministry of Transport’s grip” on fines, and enable his council to control the settings for Auckland.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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