Figures released to the Otago Daily Times yesterday showed the city's 11 scooter-riding parking wardens were kept busy buzzing about the city, issuing 73,600 tickets - together worth $2,501,000 in fines - during 2010.
That was an increase of more than 3000 on the previous year's tally of 70,273, which was up on the 65,574 issued in 2008.
Council development services manager Kevin Thompson attributed the latest increase to a greater focus on the city's suburbs, after complaints about blocked driveways and parking on yellow lines.
The council had also been asked by the South Dunedin Business Association to step up patrols in its area, and for more patrols in Mosgiel, he said.
"They've asked for us to be more out there - in other words, North Dunedin, South Dunedin and Mosgiel, we're patrolling more frequently out there."
The number of tickets issued last year was believed to be a record, at least since Mr Thompson took up his role in 2002.
"I'm not aware of a higher figure, but that's not to say there's not ... but it's certainly one of the higher ones recently."
The latest figures were released after a request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
The information also showed one parking warden was disciplined last year, after a complaint from a member of the public, but kept their job. Mr Thompson said the "normal process" had been followed, with the warden being given a verbal warning.
The number of wardens had also fallen from 12 to 11 early last year after a resignation unrelated to the disciplinary action, he said.
The vacancy was being kept open as part of the council's drive to save money, he said.
Yesterday's release also showed the chances of escaping a parking infringement notice were better than 50-50 for those who wrote in with explanations.
A total of 73,600 tickets were issued, after which 5759 motorists had written to the council offering explanations, resulting in 3088 - or 53.6% - not having to pay their fines.
Mr Thompson said the explanations were assessed by the council's customer service agency staff, rather than wardens, and were bound to include some bogus excuses.
Once operational costs were covered, the remaining $348,000 from parking fines was transferred to the council's consolidated fund.
Six staff at Dunedin International Airport had been warranted by the council to act as parking wardens at the airport, but failed to issue a single ticket last year, the figures showed.
Mr Thompson said parking wardens had no ticket quota to meet and did not earn performance bonuses related to ticket numbers.
