PARKING fines are set to rise by a fifth in a new crackdown on cheating motorists.
Town hall chiefs have revealed their plans as Kirklees Council prepares to take over the running of all parking offences from West Yorkshire police.
The move will see more traffic wardens on the streets.
At present, illegal parkers are issued with a £50 fine, reduced to £30 if they pay within a week.
But under the council scheme, offenders will be hit with a £60 fine, reduced by half if they fork out within a fortnight.
Council officials are poised to make an application to take over all parking enforcement from next July.
The move - first revealed in August last year - is in line with similar schemes up and down the country.
It is proposed an extra three parking attendants are employed in Kirklees, taking the total to 34.
Currently, West Yorkshire police are responsible for issuing and collecting parking fines from drivers who have parked illegally or on double yellow lines.
The council collects fines from car parks and places on the street where drivers have to pay to park.
But under the new scheme, the council would take responsibility for all the activities.
It promises to be a tougher regime.
Jeff English, transport manager at the council, said: "Over the years, the priority the police have been able to give to enforce parking restrictions has been gradually reducing."
The Examiner revealed in March how the council predicted it will fine 41,000 motorists a year once it takes over full responsibility from the police - compared with 27,000 tickets a year at the moment.
Most of the enforcement team will be based at High Street Buildings in the centre of Huddersfield, with others at Holmfirth and Dewsbury.
