REFORMS to the ticketless parking fine system to require on-the-spot notifications have passed NSW Parliament.

Under the existing ticketless system introduced in 2020, instead of having the infringement notice left on the vehicle, the fine was sent by post, sometimes not being received until weeks after the incident.

In 2023/24, local councils issued 822,310 ticketless parking fines, a 49 percent increase over the 551,441 issued in 2022/23.

In 2023, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council issued 847 ticketless fines to a value of $152,375.

The Fines Amendment (Parking Fines) Bill 2024 requires councils to attach an on-the-spot notification to the vehicle, and to take photos of offences and make them available for Revenue NSW to provide to drivers.

There will still be limited exceptions where an on-the-spot notification is not required, for example where it may be unsafe or hazardous for a ranger to do so.

The Bill will also invalidate ‘repeat’ ticketless parking fines, where drivers can be fined multiple times for the same offence before they even become aware of the first infringement.

Data reporting rules will be introduced to evaluate if further reforms are necessary.

A working group, which has representatives from stakeholders including Local Government NSW, has been established by Revenue NSW to inform the drafting of regulations and assist with implementation.

“The community feedback on this issue has been clear, and dates all the way back to when ticketless parking was first introduced in 2020,” said Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos.

“Bringing back on-the-spot notification for parking fines is a common-sense reform and restores fairness and integrity to the parking fine system.”