Auckland city reaps $100m in parking, vehicle fines

The council body collected $22.9 million last financial year, out of total parking charges and enforcement of $72.8 million.

Auckland Transport’s $10m a year from parking penalties alone shows the system isn’t working, AA protests.

Motorists have forked out more than $100 million in parking and vehicle fines from Auckland Transport over four years - and owe plenty more.

The council body collected $22.9 million last financial year, out of total parking charges and enforcement of $72.8 million.

Although that was down on the $23.6 million received from a total $73.2 million the previous year, the Automobile Association is disappointed at what it sees as an unabated parking blitz.

More than $52 million reaped from fines since Auckland Transport was set up in late 2010 has been for parking or bus and transit lane breaches, and just over $47 million for infringements carrying far higher penalties.

But the AA is more forgiving of action taken on unsafe vehicles. Most fines - at $200 a time - have been for failing to display valid warrants of fitness or registration stickers, although figures the agency gave the Herald under official information legislation show motorists have also received $160,000 in notices for worn or damaged tyres.

The figures show $24.4 million in unpaid fines, but Auckland Transport appears to have waived or forfeited about $16.6 million since 2010 by granting exemptions or withdrawing notices during court proceedings.

Although vehicle infringement notices issued in 2013-14 eased by 3500 to 114,000, parking tickets kept growing. The AA says the 319,500 issued last year - up from 288,000 in 2011-12 - point to systemic failure.

"In our view, Auckland Transport is focusing too much on enforcement, and not enough on helping people to comply," said spokesman Barney Irvine.

"We don't believe AT has the balance right when it comes to fines - $10 million a year is a heck of a lot, and what it tells us is that the system isn't working. What we want is a system where it's as easy as possible for people to do the right thing and where they aren't getting stung for honest mistakes."

Mr Irvine welcomed a 10-minute grace period before parking charges apply in Auckland's CBD, but pleaded for more leniency for motorists miscalculating how long they need to leave their vehicles.

Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said parking officers worked on school safety programmes and answered public calls for help as well as enforcing the law. They placed "friendly reminders" on windscreens in the month before warrants or registrations expired, and warning notices on first sight after that.

"Only then do we issue live offence notices," he said.