CITY of York Council's tough new stance against motorists who persistently flout parking regulations started to bite today.

A car was towed away from North Street today after becoming the first vehicle to be clamped under the crackdown.

The motorist, who had clocked up an "incredible" 94 penalty charge notices, will now have to go to the parking reception at 9 St Leonard's Place, provide proof of ownership, address details, pay a £30 parking fine and hand over £75 for the removal of the vehicle, plus £6 for every day in storage.

But he or she will also have to pay approximately £5,300 in outstanding fines.

Motorists parking illegally face a £60 fine, but this falls to £30 if paid within 14 days. If unpaid after 28 days, the council has the discretion to increase the fine to £90. That means 94 notices could eventually clock up £8,400 in fines.

If the owner fails to come forward, the council will eventually have the car crushed.

A council spokesman said the authority had access to DVLC records, but the person shown as the registered owner did not in fact own the vehicle. The DVLC had powers to seize and crush the vehicle.

He said the car was also untaxed, and police had also ticketed it for this offence.

Councillors agreed to begin clamping illegally parked vehicles, which already had three or more unpaid penalty charge notices - commonly known as parking tickets - in July.

Russ Broadbent, the council's parking services manager, said: "The policy was always designed to tackle persistent offenders and 94 outstanding fines is one of the worst cases I have seen."

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for transport, said of the first clamping: "I think that this shows that we do try to take action against people who flout regulations.

"Clearly somebody who gets 94 tickets doesn't care about parking regulations and I think everybody would agree people who park like this shouldn't be allowed to continue to get away with it."

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, shadow executive member for planning and transport, said: "If someone's not paying their parking fines they are obviously breaking the law.

"Hopefully this will be a timely reminder to people who are heading for a similar.

"If it doesn't get claimed I hope the council will pursue the owner through the DVLA."

Updated: 14:06 Thursday, November 25, 2004