‘Heartless money grab’: Councillor slams controversial ticketless parking fine scheme

A controversial scheme allowing parking inspectors to issue fines without tickets has been slammed as a “heartless money grab”.

A Sydney councillor has slammed a scheme allowing parking inspectors to hand out fines without leaving their vehicles, branding it a “heartless money grab”.

Cumberland City Council in Sydney’s west last year brought in a scheme to allow parking inspectors to hand out penalty notices for illegally parked cars without having to exit a Tesla.

Cumberland councillor and former mayor Steve Christou has slammed the scheme, arguing drivers have a right to know if they’re being penalised rather than waiting weeks for a ticket to arrive in the mail.

“This is a heartless money grab and blatant revenue-earning scheme, which has seen parking fine revenue increase by $2.5m a year,” he claimed

“It is the latest kick in the guts by the Labor Party, which claims to represent the so-called workers in their community.”

Cumberland councillor Steve Christou has slammed the ticketless parking fine scheme. Picture: 7News

Cumberland Mayor Lisa Lakes said the scheme was introduced to protect parking inspectors.

Mr Christou will reportedly try to abolish the ticketless parking offences if re-elected to council in September.

Despite NSW councils being put on notice over the ticketless fines in March, Cumberland Mayor Lisa Lake said the ticketless nature of the fines was necessary due to an increase in assaults on parking officers.

“In 2019 we started to see a great increase in assaults on our parking officers,” she told 2GB.

“This is the really sad reality, it’s not just verbal threats and bullying, I’m talking really serious physical aggression.

“Between then and 2021 we reported 33 different assaults; one of our parking officers was actually hospitalised.”

The council has issued an additional 33 fines per week since the scheme was brought in; however, Ms Lake maintained that safety was the key consideration.

“This has been a trial but I have to tell you … we have seen a decrease in these assaults on our parking officers,” she said.

“Obviously, there’s an increase in productivity if you’ve got these things happening electronically.”

NSW councils were put on notice over the ticketless fines in March. Picture: NewsWire / James Gourley

She added officers needed to upload evidence of parking breaches, and the Teslas were “very visible”.

“It’s one car, it’s not hiding, it’s very visible and I think a highly visible, clearly marked car can act as a strong deterrent,” Ms Lake said.

In a statement, Cumberland Council said the new technology had reduced assaults and harassment of council staffers by 64 per cent.

“Prior to implementing this vehicle, Council recorded 33 assaults on staff, from August 2019 to December 2021.

“Since implementing the vehicle, 14 assaults have occurred, including two incidents of psychological bullying and harassment, from December 2021 to August 2024.

“This data shows us that the implementation of this technology has reduced these incidents by just over 64 per cent.

“Council uses this vehicle in high-risk areas like our town centres and surrounding streets.

“The vehicle can only detect offences in time-limited parking areas, no stopping zones, no parking zones and loading zones.

“If the vehicle detects an offence, it is digitally sent to Revenue NSW on the same day.

“Revenue NSW then posts the fine. Council still undertakes foot patrols every day.

“Council is disappointed that it has to implement these measures to provide a safer workplace for our staff.”

Cumberland Council says it still uses foot patrols to monitor for parking offences.Picture: NewsWire / James Gourley

NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos wrote to councils in March this year about the ticketless fines not meeting community expectations.

She said newly released data showing the increase in parking fines and exploding parking ticket revenue was proof there was a “need to act”.

Figures released by the state government revealed ticketless fines had increased by 49 per cent from 551,411 in 2022/23 to 822,310 in 2023/24, while traditional fines decreased by 22 per cent (716,148 in 2022/23 to 558,634 in 2023/24).

Revenue generated from the paperless charges also increased by 54 per cent ($55,141,305) to $158,015,513 in the 2023-24 financial year, with revenue of all fine formats increasing by 14 per cent to $253,606,381.

“I think at a time when families and households are under enormous pressure that it’s more important than ever that we have a fair system that offers immediate notification for drivers,” she said.