Hundreds of parking tickets were handed out in Carlisle in the first half of 2022, new figures reveal.

Penalty Charge Notices are issued when drivers break parking regulations, such as by parking on double yellow lines or on a single yellow line at a prohibited time.

Figures obtained by Churchill Motor Insurance through Freedom of Information requests show 378 penalty charge notices were handed out by Carlisle City Council in the six months to June 2022 – equivalent to two each day.

This was the same daily figure as across the whole of 2021.

Nicholas Mantel, head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “Motorists across Britain are regularly being caught out by increased and sometimes complicated parking restrictions.

“We would encourage drivers to always check parking signs carefully to ensure they avoid any expensive fines."

“If motorists do receive a parking fine, they have 28 days to pay it or appeal to an independent tribunal.”

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The figures show Carlisle City Council brought in £8,422 in revenue in the first half of 2022 from penalty charge notices – or £47 a day.

This was a fall from £59 a day across the whole of 2021 – although seasonal variations and coronavirus lockdowns may have contributed.

The figures further show £65,516 has been collected by Carlisle City Council from parking tickets from the start of 2020 to June 2022.

The RAC Foundation, a charity for motorists, said parking rules are there for a reason – but added "over-enthusiastic parking enforcement" may also be playing a role in the rise across the UK.

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Steve Gooding, director of the organisation, said: “Whichever way they turn and wherever they decide to stop, on-street and off-street, drivers are faced with the threat of parking sanctions.

“Between the 20,000 tickets issued by councils daily and the 30,000 dished out by private parking companies, motorists are seemingly facing a positive flurry of fines and charges – around one every two seconds."

READ MORE: Cumbria County Council parking manager urges people to appeal parking tickets