A NEW force to police the streets of Glasgow begins work today as the city launches a high-profile offensive against motorists who flaunt parking regulations.
The new clampdown will also see parking fines double, as Glasgow City Council takes over parking control from the police.
Glasgow's new team of 105 traffic attendants - increased from the current 78 wardens - is expected to issue an extra 30,000 tickets within the first year, netting the city #4m in profit.
When Edinburgh City Council took over parking control in a similar move last year, its Blue Meanies issued 80,000 tickets in just six months and 2037 motorists had their cars towed away.
If the new Glasgow attendants become as notorious as their Edinburgh counterparts, the team's light green uniform could signal the onset of the Green Meanies.
But Mr Jim Stevenson, assistant enforcement officer, said: ''We want to free up the city centre and help public transport have greater access. We have been likened to Edinburgh's Blue Meanies, but we are nothing like them. They are only interested in giving fines, we are here to free up the city.''
The attendants will patrol the Glasgow's streets both on foot and on electric scooters, which are the first of their kind in Scotland.
They will all carry state-of-the-art hand-held computers, capable of issuing fines on the spot. The computers can also tell if an offending vehicle has a number of outstanding fines to allow the attendant to inform the police, or have the vehicle towed away.
Parking fines will go up from #20 to #40 with drivers offered a 50% discount if the fine is paid within 14 days. However, if motorist fail to pay within 28 days, the fine rises to #60. The current tow-away fine of #105 will remain the same.
Motorists organisations said yesterday they would be keeping a close eye on the new scheme.
Ms Sue Nicholson, of the RAC, said: ''We don't condone illegal parking because it causes problems for other motorists.
''However, we will be keeping an eye on this to make sure it doesn't become revenue-led and that tickets are given for the right reasons.''
Mr Neil Greig of the AA said: ''The worry is that local authorities might see it as a money-maker and go for soft targets, not drivers who are causing serious obstructions.
''We will be monitoring the situation closely as we don't want to reach the situation where their attitude is so draconian that motorists are driven out of the city all together.''
The council insists that the new policy is aimed at unclogging the city's roads rather than penalising motorists. A council spokeswoman said: ''The main factor of the changes is to keep Glasgow moving and free up the city for businesses and commuters.
''We are also not going to be picking on motorists who don't warrant it.
''This a plan which is for the good of the city as a whole.''
The increase in the price of parking tickets, she said, came from Government guidelines in the Road Traffic Act, and aims to encourage people to pay their fines quickly.
Councillor Alistair Watson said the new council-run parking force was a positive step forward for the city.
He said: ''The legal drivers, those who don't park illegally, have nothing to fear. It is the offenders we want to crack down on.
''All the revenue from the new parking scheme will be ploughed back into the city and used to maintain the city's roads and pavements.''
Attendant Eleanor O'Neill, who will be based in Charing Cross, used to be a police traffic warden and has been transferred into the new council system.
''We have just undergone our training for the job and I'm looking forward to getting started,'' she said. ''The scooters and the new computers will make it easier to do our job.''
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