"You couldn't make it up!" - Parking fine cheaper than paying to park

In York, the fine for not paying to park is set to become cheaper than actually paying. 

The new charge for parking in City of York Council run central car parks, for longer than 5 hours, is £25.50. This compares favourably to a parking fine, which for parking offences in city run car parks is £25 if you pay within 14 days (£50 if paid after 14 days). 

York's Liberal Democrat Councillors are expressing shock over this latest embarrassing episode of financial illiteracy from York Council's Labour’s bosses. 

This drastic change in parking charges comes ahead of a broader review of city centre parking provision which is part of the Local Transport Strategy Implementation Plan. Liberal Democrats are concerned that Labour’s Council bosses have jumped the gun by introducing such a large change whilst this new strategy is being developed.

Councillor Andrew Hollyer said: 

"You couldn't make it up! It’s shocking that it will now be cheaper to commit a parking offence and pay the fine instead of actually paying to use the city’s car parks.

"Obviously we don't suggest taking this approach, but it does demonstrate the extent to which residents and visitors are being squeezed by this Labour Council.

“The Council has pledged that by 2026 it will have implemented new parking charges and modified the provision of Council-owned parking space in and around the city centre. It’s clear that by implementing a large price increase now, they are jumping the gun and putting all that work in jeopardy. Parking prices should be looked at in the context of the wider review of city centre parking provision.”