MORE than 3,300 parking fines have been dished out by Basildon’s CCTV Smart Car in its first 11 months.

However, nearly a quarter of the tickets were incorrectly issued.

Basildon Council expects to collect £105,880 in penalty charges for the first 12 months of its operation.

It will lead to a £28,130 profit for the council, as the car costs £77,750 to run each year.

Councillors will discuss the use of the vehicle at an environment and regeneration scrutiny committee meeting tomorrow.

A report in the agenda for the meeting shows of the 3,378 fines dished out in the first 11 months, 782 were later cancelled or unenforceable.

There have also been a further 33 cases which have been heard by an external adjudication service, with 18 of them so far dismissed.

The report said the car had so far targeted high streets and areas outside schools.

Malcolm Buckley, councillor responsible for the environment, said: “It has had an impact.”

“I have no official figures and comments from officers, but by my own observations it does seem to be working in the areas we initially targeted, which were schools and high streets.

“I can’t pretend the problem is eradicated, it probably never will be, but it has increased the likelihood of people being caught and, as a consequence, has made people think twice.

“The real issue is safety and we do not want to see cars parked on zig-zag lines outside schools.

“People are putting children, including their own, at risk.

“If that is the only benefit it has been worth doing, but there is also less parking in Wickford High Street.”