Traffic wardens hand out one parking ticket every five seconds, new figures from the RAC have revealed. Councils are coming under fire for the large amounts of money collected from the 19,000 tickets given to drivers each day.
London drivers were given the most tickets followed by those in Brighton, Birmingham and Manchester.
Have you been given a ticket recently? Do you think the charges are fair? Send us your comments and experiences.
This debate is now closed. Thank you for your comments. You can read a selection of them below.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:
 |  The self-righteousness of some of the comments on here make me smile |
We noticed two very dubious looking men lurking around parked cars a few weeks ago. They were traffic wardens who were actually standing by the parking meters waiting for the pay and display tickets to expire so they could pounce like a pair of vultures. That's probably how we got our parking ticket even though we had paid and displayed and had two hours left on the ticket at the time the penalty notice was issued. Needless to say after disputing the ticket it was duly cancelled. The self-righteousness of some of the comments on here make me smile.
Jo, Nottingham, UK If all parking attendants were given a day off, I'll be keen to hear what most people say then of the outcome. Get a highway code book and park legally.
Frank, London
I would like to see more tickets (or ideally clamping) given out in Liverpool, particularly to people who park in/on or blocking the entrance to cycle paths. Every morning my cycle commute is a pain due to blatant law breakers parking on double yellow lines in the cycle lanes. Its no surprise children don't cycle to school, their parents are all blocking the cycle paths with their cars!
Sarah, Liverpool
| Why should it be OK to park where you fancy just because it suits you? |
Why should it be OK to park where you fancy just because it suits you? What about the rest of us who then get held up in the resultant obstructed traffic? Park wrongly, pay the fine, simple!
Nick Roberts, London I am amazed at the sometimes smug way that some here are saying don't park in the wrong place and you won't get fined. Looking at some of the examples provided by others here, perhaps people should stop being so smug? After all, lets hope it's not a relation of yours choking, lying on a pavement and no one stopping their car to help because they risk getting a ticket?
Peter, Sussex, UK
As a new driver myself these comments bother me. Is it getting to the point that when you park at a 'Pay and Display' you have to leave a note to warden saying, 'Getting ticket, hang on!'
Daniel, Kent, UK
Parking tickets has become a part of revenue generation rather then keeping traffic flowing and fair play.
Narendra Lad, London
| Park properly and pay the fee and there is no problem |
Badly parked and illegally parked cars are often a hazard to other road users, drivers and pedestrians. Park properly and pay the fee and there is no problem.
John A Turner, Wales There is a need for parking controls. But money making campaigns by local authorities are not right. Traffic wardens overstretch their powers in order to make a bonus, which clearly needs to stop.
Colin, Surrey
The parking situation is killing towns in favour of out of town shopping centres. Many once thriving commercial centres are little more than estate agents now.
Paul Weaver, Twyford, Berks
We were issued a ticket at 02:40 on a Sunday morning, for parking on the end of a row under a street light. The offence marked on the ticket was "lights". We phoned the police station to ask what we had done so we could be sure not to do it again, and they said we shouldn't pay as it was an over-enthusiastic ticket. I'd like to think it was our calm, reasoned approach that swayed our case, but equally, our police force is often open to reason, thank goodness.
Tom Lee, Guernsey
I don't object to parking tickets. I do object to traffic wardens cherry picking.
Mervyn Williams, Brecon Wales
The value of all successfully appealed tickets should be paid as a fine by the council to the motorist to compensate for the lost time and to stop wardens extorting money out of innocent people
Howard, London
| Driving round and round looking for a space is an idiotic use of the car |
I have no problem with fines for illegal parking, but what the country needs is more parking spaces. Driving round and round looking for a space is an idiotic use of the car yet for many people, including the majority that live outside London, having a car is a necessity. While buses are excellent in principle, can you imagine getting the shopping, two small children and a pushchair on a bus every week?
Chris, London I was given a parking ticket on my scooter, despite the fact it had a police notice on it explaining that the vehicle had been involved in an accident and the driver had been taken to hospital!
Molly Pike, London
There are two issues here. One is the genuine problem of badly and even dangerously parked vehicles. The other is revenue-raising. Dangerously parked cars should be dealt with severely as someone may get killed as a result. In terms of revenue, many councils are restricted as to how they can raise money, so they use parking. Commercial companies brought in are given massive targets and the wardens have to use dirty tricks to reach them. This is wrong and should be stopped.
Chris Parker, Bucks
I am please to see clamping will now be licensed. Clamping should have greater regulation, at present it is an extortionist's paradise.
Ian, Baildon
| Why shouldn't I park on the side roads? I pay my road tax! |
In Solihull town centre there is absolutely no free parking. There are multi-storey car parks which charge of course, and if you park in any of the local side roads you get a ticket. Why shouldn't I park on the side roads? I pay my road tax! I hate having to pay for parking as I feel I give the council enough, and this is just yet another tax.
Andy, Solihull Why are clampers allowed to wait on single yellow lines in the middle of the lane but we are not? Why are police cars allowed to park outside burger bars to grab their lunch but we are not? Why are the minibuses that drop off traffic wardens allowed stop on double yellow lines when we are not? As with everything else that is going wrong with this country, it's the hypocrisy that drives people mad.
Patricia, Henley, UK
We were issued a parking ticket two minutes after the ticket expired. How were we so unfortunate? The CCTV camera positioned opposite!
Amanda, Nottingham
| I parked in a pay and display car park, paid, displayed and still got a ticket |
"Don't park illegally and you won't get fined" - I wish. I parked in a pay and display car park, paid, displayed and still got a ticket. I appealed successfully - they couldn't exactly argue. Why I should have to spend my time and money sending them letters because traffic wardens are so over-zealous that they ticket legally parked cars?
Rebecca, Maidenhead If people did not break laws and bylaws, they would not get a ticket.
Ken Elmes, London
I have only ever had one parking ticket in 18 years of driving and I accepted it. The problem these days is that councils are removing parking spaces and then charging a fortune to park in car parks or fining those that don't.
Jerry, Basingstoke, Hants
Get a motorbike. There are far more places to park, and it's always free. Add that to no congestion, barely any tax, low fuel consumption and a big grin on your face when you get to work. It's the only way to go!
Jon, Wiltshire
Brighton & Hove council find it easy to hand out more tickets because the times when parking is restricted are longer. In my street, parking is restricted from 9.00.am to 8.00pm every day of the year. It is extreme and unnecessary in terms of traffic flow.
Rob Beasley, Brighton
| Traffic wardens hanging round parking meters is a mis-allocation of resources |
If a vehicle is causing an obstruction it should be towed away, not ticketed. Traffic wardens hanging round parking meters waiting for them to click over onto Penalty Charge is a mis-allocation of resources.
Brian W, Chelmsford How can there ever be too many? If these idiots think they can continuously break the law because it suits them, then the fines should be increased. It's about time all punishments were enforced more strictly, then maybe our society would slowly start to improve.
Keith, Sunderland
Many councils use sly techniques to trick the motorist into parking illegally - one is to temporarily suspend parking in an area with the tiniest of stickers on the pay and display machines or they'll make the signs and road markings as confusing as possible to the motorist. Whilst gun crime is exploding in a city like mine, all the council is interested in is extracting money from soft targets such as motorists.
Jon, Nottingham
Never be afraid to appeal if you feel you have reasonable grounds. The parking adjudicators and the PEC in Northampton are not bureaucratic ogres and will consider all factors and circumstances. It's surprising how many well-intentioned motorists get let down by out of order machines or lack of them.
Trish Wilson, London
I've received two fraudulent tickets in the past 12 months. I'd like to see the fraudulent issue of parking tickets being made a criminal offence. It's no different to be robbed.
David Boiardi, London
| A single women on their own should not have to be bullied by the clamper |
I was clamped and understandably very angry about it. When I asked the men where the sign was, he pointed it out and then said 'He liked a woman who fought back'. �90 later I had my car back, but a single women on their own should not have to be bullied by the clamper.
Caroline, Manchester A licensed company should be subject to a proper complaints procedure where motorists unfairly clamped are fairly heard and not insulted and treated like criminals.
Sally Wigley, Weybridge, Surrey
I believe the government would have been far better to implement a law such as they have in Scotland where only the local authorities or police services can clamp vehicles under specific bylaws. All this new law does is to give an air of legitimacy to these individuals to demand money with menaces.
Mike Pannell, Guildford, UK
This is a fantastic idea - finally there is a bit of justice in the car clamping world. Too often people are clamped with little or no warning when they are parked in an area with no signs.
Robert Epstein, Bristol
I still think that you should have the right to clamp a vehicle that is illegally parked on your property! We seem to be allowing 'trespassers' the freedom to do what they like in this country. People can park on our property as and when they like, and our only weapon against it has now been revoked!
Andy, Leeds
| The fines for parking should be removed and replaced with points on your licence |
The fines for parking should be removed and replaced with points on your licence; parking illegally is as bad as speeding. Deal with it the same way.
Stewart, Brighton, UK I parked recently in a public car park, right next to the ticket machine. I got out, went straight to the machine to get the ticket, and a car park attendant put a ticket on my car. I didn't leave the car for more than a minute! Fortunately with some persuasion I managed to get the ticket revoked, but it just goes to show how keen they are.
Rob Smith, London, UK
I can't help feeling that some of these comments about 'you won't get a ticket if you abide by the rules' are rather self-righteous. I got a ticket a few months ago, in the time it took me to walk between my car and the pay and display machine. When I challenged the warden, he said that the car wasn't displaying a valid ticket at the time he checked it. He had actually watched me walk to the machine!
Josie, Leeds
I am fortunate to live in a town where every car park is free. Despite this double yellow lines mean nothing to those too idle to use them. If you get a ticket, tough.
Martin, Kidsgrove, UK
If you break the rules, you pay! Stop moaning.
Phil Knight, Staines, Middlesex
|  Parking in a city centre is not a right |
Some people seem to see a double yellow line around a junction as a perfectly ideal spot to park their cars. As a result they block visibility and cause accidents. Parking fines are there for a reason; those who can't simply follow instructions deserve their tickets. Also, parking in a city centre is not a right. Get the bus and save the environment as well as your own pocket. The people of this nation are often far too lazy.
Rachel, Cambridge, Cambs As a number of comments say, the concern most people have is not about illegally parked cars, but 'illegally' issued tickets. I have received two tickets, contested both and won. In the second case, I was booked at 5.30am in a cul de sac in Edinburgh for 'encroachment'. The end of my car was about a foot over the end of the resident's bay. Ridiculous, thrown out by the adjudicator, and a waste of a day and a half of my time.
Justin, Edinburgh
The problem, to me is that there are too many places where parking is illegal. In some places, such as near junctions or on particularly congested streets, or those used frequently by cyclists, parking should be illegal, but many double yellow lines seem to be present only to force people to use overpriced car parks.
Ben, Cambridge
The real problem is that the public blindly let the local council impose ever increasing parking restrictions. If the councillors in charge of the bureaucrats were voted out you might see some sensible parking restrictions. Write and complain to your councillors, be vocal.
Charles Smith, London, UK
Traffic control has turned into a protection racket. Because the government does it it is legal, but that is the only reason. This and many other things, speed cameras for instance, against the general population at large are, brick by brick, turning the people against the government. My parents used to view the government as its ally, now, all aspects of government, local or national, are there to be got around or ignored. This is the route to ruination of the country.
Jon Luisada, Birmingham, UKHeld a Driving Licence for 42 years and never had a fixed penalty ticket. Just goes to show, abide by the rules and it's not expensive.
Michael Nassau, Colburn, North Yorkshire.
To Scott, Edinburgh - I'm not trying to outdo you but you should try anti-car Oxford. Gridlock most of the time because of daft traffic planning and you need a mortgage to park.
Paul B, Oxford
Traffic Wardens like any other authoritarian figures, have a means to stop this nonsense - discretion. They have always had the power to bend their own rules in circumstances where they can give a ticket but really shouldn't. But ever since they've been paid commission on tickets, their sense of discretion has all but disappeared. The solution is - if you've been given a ticket in blatantly unfair circumstances, don't pay it. Make an official protest to the council about it and threaten to take them to the small claims court if necessary. If you've got sufficient grounds for complaint, you'll probably win.
Lloyd Evans, Brighton, UK
If you're too dozy to appeal or pay straight away, you can be saddled with hundreds of pounds of irreversible fees from utterly implacable bailiffs, which indeed escalate if one asks for an 'affordable repayment plan'. People without a lot of money can thus be ruined, bankrupted and tormented for a minor parking indiscretion. I look forward to the day when parking enforcement is subject to judicial review.
Jonathan Meldrum, Baldock, UK Illegally parked cars must be targeted and towed not just ticketed. Traffic wardens are in the front line in helping protect us from terrorists. Car parking should be very restricted and vigorously monitored in any areas where the potential for a bomb would lead to heavy civilian casualties. Sadly, these days it's not just about traffic flow, it's about the very real possibility of a terrorist targeting you while you shop or enjoy a meal in a cafe. Illegally parked cars are simply giving terrorists potential cover.
Clive, USA - Brit expat.
Parking tickets, speeding fines, congestion charging. It's all part of a concerted plan to deny us the freedom of our cars.
Rob Illing, Manchester, England
I attend a church in Bromley and a year ago the council introduced parking payment on Sundays in our road. It's effectively a tax on worship, as our congregation are pretty much the only people who park there. The 2 hour limit makes it very impractical and many get caught out innocently. Bromley Council now rakes in pounds every week that otherwise would have been contributed to good work in the community that our church carries out.
Ash, London, UK
I can understand councils controlling who parks inside city centre's shopping areas etc, but I draw the line at them making money from residences. If you live in a flat, you want to be able to park your car inclusive of rent, and not have to pay the council. Rich people who have houses don't have to pay to park on their driveways. So why should other people?
Doug, Oxford, UK
Just don't drive, then you won't park badly, then you won't be fined, then your bank balance won't be hurting and you won't have high stress levels, therefore you'll all be able to smile.
Matthew Philo, Hereford, England
If they really wanted to deter people from illegal parking, they'd make the fines �5000 or risk of imprisonment. That they make them just about affordable so you take the risk just goes to show what a great money maker it is for them.
Kai, Glasgow
I did a month's work in London, so before I went I wrote a letter to the local council asking what parking restrictions were in place for parking on a yellow line on a Saturday. The reply was I could park all day. You guessed it, they towed my car away. The really are beyond a joke.
David, Brussels
Perhaps the cash gained from the tickets should be used to improve parking facilities in the areas they are gathered from? A lot of wardens don't do themselves any favours and regularly fall into the stereotype. I've never had a ticket but some of my friends have had them over tiny things like alignment, and a foot onto a double yellow line. Certainly some judgement and common sense is needed.
Bob, York
If double yellow lines are put on a road it means no parking because of possible obstructions etc. Therefore why do disabled and taxi drivers think it is their given right to park there?
Barry, Preston
One of our company van drivers carries a copy of Westminster Council's Park Right pamphlet; this is a parking guide, mainly aimed at delivery drivers. He recently pointed out to an attendant who was issuing him with a ticket that the Park Right guide indicated that he was in fact legally parked. The attendant ignored this fact until the driver told him that he was making a citizens arrest, because he believed that the ticket was being issued fraudulently. The attendant retreated apace, not to be seen again.
Mike, London
| It's not always a clear case of parking wrongly and getting a ticket for it |
It's not always a clear case of parking wrongly and getting a ticket for it. I recently parked where there was a relatively visible "P" and next to it some rather inconspicuous words saying "Doctors only". Of course I only noticed the "P". And of course there were other spaces available where I could have parked had those extra words been conspicuous enough. I wrote to Parkwise to dispute, and now I owe them �60 and face a possible court appearance. I truly believe councils, especially their hired agents, are primarily interested in the revenue from parking tickets. Shame on you!
Evans, UK The 1993 legislation which created the current system turned local councils into mafia like organisations, running an extortion racket: if you park in their 'patch' you will pay. Streets where there is no parking problem have been turned into residents only or pay and display areas, so that money can be extorted from motorists. Parking has become a crooked, corrupt, nasty business, and the public have a duty for the sake of our democracy to short circuit this process. One way, for example is to shout out a warning whenever you see a parking attendant, thus ensuring they cannot work effectively.
Mike, London UK
We pay road tax, tax on petrol, tax on cars. Why should we have to pay to park at all? Just another stealth tax, then if you don't pay this you get a ticket and a fine. If the car park is privately owned, fair enough. But if it's a council facility we are already paying for the building anyway and the wages of the parking wardens. Save tax payers money, make all car-parks free and big enough to cope.
Phil, Leicestershire
There is no parking whatsoever in Aberystwyth and the parking restrictions have been changed outside student halls so that cars can only be left for a limited amount of time. Where exactly are students supposed to park their cars? Being so out of the way, there is no way that students can bring their belongings here on the train. It's quite simply daft. A few weeks ago I watched a warden applying parking tickets to all of the cars parked their.
Liz, Aberystwyth
Clamps, cameras, congestion charging, double yellow lines and wardens. Why I left for the USA where there's room to breathe and park! British affluence is measured by how many cars you can park in front of your house.
Darren, USA
My wife and I visit the UK every two years or so and always rent a car for the duration of our visit. I have often noticed cars parked any old place, often partially or completely blocking the roadways in small towns, sometimes with wheels on the sidewalks. I can't speak for what is right for you in your country, but that sort of thing is not tolerated over here. In the US, where we have made more concessions to automobile usage we tend to have wider roads and more available parking spaces, but we also have little or no tolerance for traffic blocking the use of the roadway or intruding into the pedestrian areas. The solution is simple; don't park illegally and you won't get a ticket.
Bill, Bellingham, WA, USA
These fines in conjunction with the new exploitation of residents' parking schemes are no more than a way for local authorities to increase low or lowered settlement grants from central government. The monies are supposed to be hypothecated.
Dave H, Aylesbury
Parking is a right not a privilege especially for motorcycle riders.
Yarniee, Leatherhead, UK
The real issue here isn't about people being fined for parking badly. It's whether parking tickets should be treated as a way of making money; with incentives to wardens to issue as many as possible without any room for them using their common sense about minor infringements.
Ian Davis, Horsham, Sussex
| It's quite simple. Don't park where you are not supposed to and avoid the ticket |
It's quite simple. Don't park where you are not supposed to and avoid the ticket. Same with speeding. Don't speed and don't get the ticket.
Kate, West Mids I completely agree that if a car is parked illegally it should get a ticket but there seems to be an awful lot of cases where people are being fined in ridiculous circumstances. For example the Blood Donor Van which was fined but parked legally, the person who stopped to help their child who was choking and the many other cases similar to these. Surely this is taking things a step too far?
Anon, London
Park in the right place and you don't get ticketed. I would triple the fine for those parked illegally on disabled parking spaces. People who park illegally are just plain lazy and selfish. The walk will do you good!
Paul, Oakham
There are too many cars in this country for everyone to be able to park where and when they like. Like traffic lights, parking restrictions are there so we can all get by on a crowded road network. Why should those who don't want to play by the rules get away with it?
Marcus, Oxford
I've had a parking ticket issued to my mum when she was visiting me at home for a meeting with my care worker despite the badges.
Martin, Norwich, UK
Adrian of Edinburgh is the exception up here. Edinburgh is notorious for its wardens - they fine ambulances, hearses, the disabled. The council makes many millions from this and also sells almost double the number of permits for spaces, so you pay for a permit then get fined for not being in a space that doesn't exist! Having just lost the referendum on congestion charging, the council now wants to enlarge the controlled areas across the whole city. Truly, this is the most motorist unfriendly council in Britain.
Scott, Edinburgh
It's all very well for the people above who "never park illegally". Try living in one of our town centres where I have to fight for a parking space outside my own house, and am often relegated to parking in another street half a mile away just to find a space. Then tell me why I should be ticketed for parking on the large paved area at the top of our residential street without causing an obstruction to traffic or pedestrians. Well I have done, and I have been ticketed. Fair?
Matt, Berkshire
| How can you criticise councils for fining people who disobey clearly stated rules? |
I drive all week as part of work and probably cover 1500 miles a week. I park in different cities and unfamiliar areas all the time. I have never received a parking ticket. How can you criticise councils for fining people who disobey clearly stated rules?
John Williams, Sheffield If you park somewhere you shouldn't, you should pay the penalty. I do believe however that there is a minority of traffic wardens who almost abuse their own position by sticking to the rules no matter what, and not using their own judgement. No set of rules can ever account for all circumstances, and we need intelligent parking attendants who can account for that.
Andrew, Stafford, UK
At least in most places you only get a ticket if you park somewhere you shouldn't. In Edinburgh we have the notorious blue meanies who in the course of their duties ticketed one car whose front and rear wheels were not perfectly parallel with the pavement but otherwise legally parked, a hearse that was collecting a coffin from a funeral directors, and an ambulance whilst the crew was on an emergency call out. The meanies have been known to remove cones denoting temporary parking restrictions to fool people into parking only to give tickets later. Plus they have managed to ticket cars in pay and display areas whilst the driver was getting his permit from the machine. Makes me glad I don't drive.
Jan Goulding, Edinburgh
Welcome to Brighton! Many of my friends won't come here anymore as it's just too expensive to park anywhere, and there are no free bays anymore. The crazy number of bus and cycle lanes here causes more congestion than illegally parked cars. Thanks Brighton Council, you're killing our city!
Hugh, Brighton, UK
I got issued a ticket for my motorcycle in a motorcycle bay. They suspended the bay without any notice, I created merry hell, and they cancelled the ticket, not before catching out loads of bikers. Slough Borough Council is making thousands each day, yet reducing their subsidies to OAP charities for community transport. Profit before people, nice one Slough.
Dave, Slough, Berks
How many times do you actually see tickets given out to people who park dangerously? I don't think I've ever seen it. The majority of tickets are given out to people who miss coming back to their cars by 10 minutes, people who are safely parked in proper bays causing danger to no-one. I'd like to see traffic wardens penalising the dangerous drivers who park with no regard and those that park and create queues.
Graeme Jennings, Newcastle Upon Tyne This is not about people breaking the law. It is about opportunistic wardens who lurk around corners, waiting for an easy 'hit' - such as the time I parked on a meter and, realising I was short of change, walked about 20 yards to a shop to get some. As I neared the shop, I realised I had some pound coins in the car, and as I turned around and saw a warden just about to write out a ticket. Absolutely unfair. I had to cause a massive fuss to get him to see what he was doing wrong.
Andrew J, Manchester
It really makes me angry when people park on the pavement. I have seen cars parked with all four of their wheels on the pavement making it impossible to pass by with out walking out into the road. When I have complained to some of the drivers their answers are 'Well you can always walk round.' If they are to lazy to park else where why should I risk my life by stepping out into the road.
Glyn, Wales
You all speak of parking in the right place. I moved into my house, a permit required area. I applied for the permit, and twice in the space of 48 hours I was issued �30 fines. I was parking legally and awaiting my permit. I do believe that there must be a deterrent but not such a high fine. Where does the money go? In Britain we seem to agree with paying so much and not receiving anything for it.
Steve, Wales
Perhaps if councils were to build a few large multi-storey car parks instead of concentrating on office blocks that stay empty, the revenue could be gathered more simply than having an army of wardens on the streets. You never know, perhaps the councils will then resurface the roads to make them safer?
Paul Green, UK
| If you break the law then you have to pay the price |
If you break the law then you have to pay the price. It's the same mentality as that of speeding drivers. If you don't want to get caught don't do it.
Calum, EdinburghCars should be bar-coded for instant fining and licenses withdrawn until fines are paid.
Colin Harrison, London
What amazes me is not the proliferation of parking wardens and hype about tickets, but the vast numbers of people that can't understand that if you park somewhere you're not supposed to then you're breaking the rules and are going to get fined.
Ed, St. Albans
Once I got a ticket as I had a wheel on a line. I had no alternative way to park as the car next to me parked at a bad angle. I think its terrible that parking attendants ticket the disabled drivers that have accidentally place their badges upside down etc.
Helen, Wakefield
In Walsall there are only a few traffic wardens to police all the illegally parked vehicles. As a result illegally parked vehicles are everywhere, with no tickets being issued at all. There is no deterrent for parking illegally and more importantly inconsiderately. There are many hold-ups and traffic jams caused in Walsall by illegally parked vehicles and nobody is doing anything. With these issues and the terrible state of the roads, voted the worst in Britain, its a wonder anybody drives through the area or wants to shop here.
Jane Lloyd-Stubbs, Walsall
| I have a simple way of getting around this. Fake plates |
I have a simple way of getting around this. Fake plates. I always carry them in my boot and if I have to park somewhere for 5 minutes so I can get a few bits of shopping for example, I swap them. I don't park on double yellow lines and I don't intend to cause problems for anyone. I just refuse to line the pockets of the council that already extorts me for council tax.
Anon, Nottingham I've never parked illegally and have therefore never received a parking ticket. Are you thinking what I'm thinking!
Tim Stokes, Sittingbourne
I have never had a parking ticket and I don't expect to ever get one. The reason for that is I don't park illegally. It's not rocket science to avoid a ticket. I have heard an extreme case of a hearse being given a ticket - that is crazy and I'm sure you could appeal against it.
Marie, Glasgow, Scotland
I have no sympathy for these drivers at all. Drivers are all well aware that certain areas of the highway are to be kept clear for safety purposes. The fact that so many offenders are caught indicates that the fines are tolerable. Increase the fines to a level that deters. Offenders in my area can get away with parking in dangerous areas simply by displaying a disabled badge or a sign with 'Taxi' on it.
David, Cornwall, UK
I think councils gathering extra revenue from people other than me is fantastic. I think the charges should be raised to be more of a deterrent and also to increase council income from other people.
Martin, UK
If people park where they clearly shouldn't be, what do they expect?
Emily, Leeds, UK
This proves that tickets are just a revenue source for local authorities and not a solution to deter car users.
Ian Davies, London
I live in the city in a parking permit only area, on a given day at least half the cars on my street are parked illegally. I am quite happy for these people to be given tickets, in fact I wish their cars would be towed, as they have no respect for our neighbourhood and the council is useless in dealing with the problem. I have never had a parking ticket. Its simple really, don't park where you're not supposed too.
Jo, Leeds
The amount of illegal parking is atrocious, more tickets should be given. More power to the traffic wardens elbow!
Adrian Cannon, Edinburgh
In principal I am entirely in favour of councils handing out tickets to illegally parked vehicles, my experience is that inconsiderate parkers are also inconsiderate drivers. However I think there is too much targeting of easy options, people who are legally parked but have over stayed their tickets for a few minutes while those who double park or stop on double yellows, junctions and zig zags while they run to use the cash point etc. get away with it.
Peter D, High Wycombe, UK
I've been driving - everyday almost - for 37 years and never had a parking ticket. I make sure I park in the right places!
Terry, Epsom, UK
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