THE cost of parking tickets in Scotland could be hiked to as much as £120, it has emerged.
A consultation is taking place on increasing the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) that is imposed on drivers who park illegally. Currently a cost of £60 is incurred, but this is reduced to £30 if it is paid within 14 days. However, a Transport Scotland consultation on the issue states that “this may not be a sufficient deterrent”.
The consultation also proposes creating a two-tier charging system, with a higher and lower band.
One proposal could see PCNs increased to £80 for a lower charge, and £100 for a higher charge, with another option being that the fees be increased to £100 and £120.
But drivers would still receive a 50% discount if the charge is paid within two weeks.
The higher PCNs could be applied to motorists who improperly park in a disabled bay, or a space marked for electric vehicles, with the consultation also asking if these charges should be imposed on those who double park or park on the pavement.
The consultation notes that while there was a review of penalty charge levels in 2010-11, the costs of these have not risen since 2001 – two decades ago.
Transport minister Graeme Dey said while the fines were a “contentious issue”, the parking policies were “an essential part of traffic management”.
Dey said: “I’m proud that the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 was approved by Parliament and empowers local authorities to tackle inconsiderate and obstructive parking. We now seek views on how to set penalty levels appropriately to ensure compliance.”
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