NSW government data reveals a 49 percent surge in ticketless parking fines issued during the 2023/24 financial year.
With revenue soaring by 14 percent and ticket numbers up by 9 percent, the ticketless parking system has become a lucrative source of income for many councils.
The ticketless system, introduced in 2020, allows councils to send fines by mail, leading to a delay in notification for drivers, making it harder for them to contest fines and increases the chance of accumulating penalties.
In the 2023/24 financial year, the number of ticketless fines surpassed on-the-spot fines for the first time, with 822,310 fines issued by local councils compared to 551,441 the year before.
Councils are gradually reverting back to on-the-spot fines, with 30 already doing so, while others require legislative enforcement for the change, prompting the NSW Government to ensure fairness in the system.
The City of Sydney stood out as the top issuer, with 265,181 fines totaling $42.4 million in 2023, followed by Canterbury-Bankstown Council with $13.7 million from 57,418 fines and North Sydney Council with $8.6 million from 51,251 infringements.