Multiple drivers had their vehicles clamped or warning notices issued for "inconsiderate" parking at the Forest Park and Ride site for tram users. Since Monday, October 17, NET Tram has been monitoring the site due to an ongoing problem with drivers parking outside of bays, parking in disabled bays without a blue badge, blocking transformer substations and pedestrian walkways.
As of 12noon on Thursday, October 20, a total of 21 vehicles had been clamped and 11 warning notices issued. Once a vehicle is clamped, the driver must pay a fine of £140 for their vehicle to be released.
If a vehicle must be towed away, then the fine increases to £200. Trevor Stocker, Head of Operations at NET, said: "We are only really going to be towing if its someone who is a more serious offender. We have given a number of warnings as well for people who have been seen using car bays inappropriately or using the park and ride and not using the tram.
Read More: Pensioner injured in 'violent attack' outside Nottingham KFC restaurant
"We really hope that we are not going to be seeing multiple occurrences from people, we will be monitoring and see where we go. We've tried to be educational and that's clearly not worked as even now we have eight vehicles clamped."
He continued: "The vast majority of people are positive and pleased that we have taken some action against people who are parking in that way. We've had some that are parking in a disabled bay, that's the level of inconsideration that's being displayed.
"They are knowingly taking a parking bay from someone who is in greater need than they are. We want to make sure that people who have additional needs can also use the site appropriately."
Mr Stocker explained the new fine system is currently being rolled out at The Forest Park and Ride Site, but that in time they may relay that across other sites. He said: "This is the area where we have seen the most amount of poor parking,
"When we do look at other areas on the network, we do see some parking outside of bays at the Wilkinson Street site. There is some like that, but the other park and ride sites are normally much better.
"This is the biggest park and ride site as well, there are nearly 1,000 parking spaces here. It's not a case of there are no parking spaces and I don't know what to do, there are clearly as you can see 150 to 200 spaces available, yet people have chosen still to park in a way that is going to disrupt someone else."
The NET team has been trying to educate customers through signage on how they can use the park and ride site, which is they can park there as long as they then use the tram. When drivers are parking outside of bays to avoid a longer walk to the tram stop, or parking in bays and then visiting nearby properties, bays are being taken away from paying customers.
Mr Stocker said: "We have had notices on windows and there is information out there, but drivers have continued to be inconsiderate in the way they they have chosen to park." He explained that choosing to fine people is not something they have taken lightly.
He said: "I don't want to be clamping anybody, we want people to come here and use the facility to go on the tram and get on with their Christmas shopping, theatre trip or whatever else they are doing, but some people are disrupting it for others.
"If we were trying to get the emergency services through that area, if there was something happening at the substation or even if we had a member of the public needing medical attention at a tram stop, then that access is being restricted as we would struggle with an ambulance or fire engine around that corner.
"It's not a thing that we think, oh we can make some money from that, it's about making sure the facilities are there for customers." Mr Stocker explained that from the fines, 5% of what is collected will be donated to local charities that NET Tram work with, such as Framework and Step Out - Stay Out.
In recent weeks many tram fare dodgers have also been caught out by plain clothes ticket inspectors on trams. Last year the fine was raised to £70 for people who board the service without a ticket.
Read Next:
