Christmas shoppers are being reminded to follow parking rules when out and about this holiday season.

Invercargill City Council Manager Environmental Services Gillian Cavanagh said people were encouraged to keep parking rules – including ensuring they were not parking incorrectly, such as on yellow lines, over driveways, or in mobility parks without a permit – in mind.

“The holiday season and its added financial pressures can be stressful, and the last thing people need is to receive an infringement notice – particularly now that these fees have increased,” she said.

Council wanted to remind people to double-check they had parked correctly, had properly activated parking machines, and that parking was no longer allowed on the southern side of Esk St between Dee and Kelvin Streets, she said.

The Government increased parking infringement fees throughout the country on October 1. For Council-operated parking areas, fees increased by an average of 70 percent for all parking-related offences, Cavanagh said.

The minimum parking infringement of $12 for overstaying less than 30 minutes in a park increased to $20, while overstaying for more than six hours rose from $57 to $97.

The most significant fee increase applies to incorrect use of a mobility park, which was raised from $150 to $750 for those parking without a mobility parking permit.

Parking payments will remain unchanged at the various Council-operated parking areas in the Invercargill CBD. All on-street parking in the city is free for 30 minutes once it is activated by entering a number plate. To pay for parking, drivers can use the PayMyPark app, a QR code, as well as coin and Paywave kiosks throughout the inner-city.