By Micheal McKenna
CONTRARY to concerns from council officials about the over-zealous nature of traffic wardens in the Armagh area there remains close to 800 parking tickets left unpaid over the last three years.
Figures obtained by Armagh I show that from 2010 there have 8,377 tickets issued in the council area with 797 of those still to be paid.
The trend of non-payment seems to be increasing but this correlates with the increasing number of tickets issued.
In 2010/11, 2,687 tickets were issued with 215 remaining unpaid as of April 29. In 2011/12, 2,706 tickets were issued with 245 still unpaid. And in 2012/13, 2,984 fines imposed with 337 still outstanding.
Recently Armagh I ran a story on the council’s consternation with the city’s parking attendants and how their lack of empathy and compassion is costing Armagh vital trade. The figures seem to support this suggestion.
Across Northern Ireland nearly one in every 10 parking tickets remain unpaid – that’s 30,359 out of 351,995 penalty charges.
A spokesperson for Department for Regional Development (DRD) said: “In not paying a PCN the keeper of the vehicle is risking having their vehicle clamped. They will also incur further fees.
“If a PCN is not paid within 14 days the amount due increases from the discounted rate of £45 to £90. The rate increases to £135 after 56 days.
“When a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) remains unpaid, DRD will obtain the details of the keeper of the vehicle and pursue the debt with them.
“Clamping and removal operations are used for debt recovery purposes where PCNs have not been paid.”
Tell us have you had a parking ticket issued and refused to pay it? And why?
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