New technology just the ticket for traffic wardens

Until now, council-employed traffic wardens in Rotherham have only been able to enforce fines if a fixed penalty notice is actually handed to the offender or attached to their vehicle. But yesterday parking managers said new computer software had been introduced to allow a ticket to be forwarded by post, meaning there was no way of avoiding punishment.

Rotherham Council's parking services manager, Martin Beard, said some serial offenders just moved their cars when they saw an officer, and then put it back when they had gone.

The new software, which has been installed on hand-held computer terminals carried by the council's traffic officers, will allow details of vehicles which have driven away to be downloaded.

A ticket will automatically be issued to the offender by post after their address has been provided by the central records of vehicle ownership held by the DVLA.

Mr Beard added: "There are areas within the Rotherham borough where some drivers take advantage of the fact that it takes a civil enforcement officer a few minutes to issue a fine.

"Some drivers knowingly park illegally and drive the vehicle away if a civil enforcement officer approaches. Such parking activities can cause traffic congestion and safety issues for pedestrians.

"We hope that this policy will deter such parking activities."

The council said the cost of the installation and annual service charge for the new system was equal to the service charge alone for the previous system, meaning there would be a saving to the council taxpayer from 2011 as well as an increase in revenue from parking fines.