Calls for on-the-spot parking fines raise

LIMERICK City Council yesterday called for an increase in on-the-spot parking fines which are set nationally at €19.

Director of services for transport, John Breen, said the fine at present was not a sufficient deterrent.

He said: “If a person tears up a parking ticket and throws it on the ground that person is liable to a €125 on the spot fine for litter.”

Last year Limerick City Council earned €601,000 from on-the-spot parking fines revenue.

Fines revenue imposed in the courts by motorists who do not pay on the spot, goes to the government.

About 25% of motorists who receive on-the-spot parking fines in Limerick pay up once they get a docket.

Mr Breen was speaking at the introduction of the new computerised fines system which comes into effect in Limerick today.

Eight traffic wardens employed by the council will now use handheld terminals in which they key in details of a car found illegally parked.

It issues a print out docket and details are simultaneously transmitted to a data back in City Hall.

Mr Breen said: “We are trying to make our traffic management operation regarding parking more efficient and not to try and hammer the motorist.”

Mayor Diarmuid Scully said that five national primary routes run through the city centre and it was crucial that parking space is well managed. He said: “This is necessary for all the customers who visit Limerick city.”

The new system was purchased at a cost of €43,000 from Impala, a Dublin company.

Limerick City Council is currently undertaking a pilot scheme for a new hi-tech parking disc system.

Instead of discs, modems are displaying parking credit.