The NSW Government says councils must pay for making parking inspectors issue paper tickets.

In an effort to align ticketless parking fines with community expectations, the NSW Government has taken decisive steps to modify the existing system. 

Minister for Finance, Courtney Houssos, has written to 128 councils across New South Wales, urging a reassessment of their ticketless parking fine procedures. 

At the same time, a freeze has been placed on the addition of new councils to the ticketless system, highlighting a push towards greater transparency and immediacy in fine notifications.

Launched as a pilot by the previous Liberal-National Government in May 2020 and expanded in December 2020, the ticketless system facilitated the digital transmission of fines to drivers via Revenue NSW, often leaving them unaware of the infraction until the notice arrived. 

To bridge the gap between issuance and notification, Minister Houssos has advocated for an “on the spot, written notification”, possibly through a simple pre-printed card placed on the windscreen at the time of offence. 

This move aims to notify drivers instantly and allow them the opportunity to gather evidence for any necessary appeals.

The current system, although efficient, has drawn criticism for complicating evidence collection for appeals, diminishing the deterrence effect of immediate fines, and potentially leading to multiple fines before the driver receives notice. 

In light of these concerns, the Minister's letter to the councils highlighted the importance of immediate written notifications to reinstate driver trust and provide clarity in the fine process. 

Notably, the letter outlined the need for photographic evidence to accompany ticketless fines, a practice not uniformly adopted but crucial for a fair review process. 

While recognising the benefits of the digital approach, including safety concerns for infringement officers, the government seeks to balance innovation with community standards and expectations.