City of Sydney: Council puts pressure on rangers to fine more drivers

CITY of Sydney is reportedly putting the pressure on its parking officers to slap more fines on drivers after parking tickets issued plummeted more than 12 per cent in one year.

A City of Sydney parking ranger in action in the CBD. Picture: John Appleyard

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CITY of Sydney Council is reportedly putting pressure on its parking officers to slap more fines on drivers after parking tickets issued plummeted by more than half since 2009.

Figures shared in recent internal emails, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, reveal the number of penalty notices issued fell from 30,077 in December 2009 to 13,774 in December 2016 — a drop of 54.2 per cent since 2009.

A source connected with the Rangers Department said the City were “frantic” over the loss of revenue and in January had asked parking rangers to work “excessive overtime” to try to make up the fines.

Rangers have reportedly been ordered to slap more fines on drivers. Picture: John Appleyard

The council denied the overtime request was related to falling revenue — but refused to reveal exactly how much overtime had been issued.

“City of Sydney rangers do not have a quota system for parking infringements. Any suggestion otherwise is completely untrue,” a spokesman said.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Picture: AP

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“In January additional patrols were put on for events including Sydney Festival, Australia Day and the Double Derby at Moore Park, the biggest sporting event in that precinct in more than 50 years.

An internal “work plan goals” document shows the council’s top two priorities for rangers were ­related to the “percentage” of parking fines issued.