FINES for illegally parked cars are to increase at the end of the month.

A government shake-up will see the maximum fine for parking violations increase to £70, with a second tier of £50 fines being introduced.

And motorists will now receive parking tickets through the post if a parking attendant is unable to issue a ticket.

The system has been in place in London and is now being extended to cover the rest of the country.

The government say the system, which will be introduced under the Traffic Management Act on Monday March 31, will be "fairer and more transparent".

Andy Clarke, Chiltern District Council's Parking Manager, said the shake-up would "see the punishment fit the crime".

Offences punishable by a £70 fine include parking on a double yellow line, in a taxi rank or without a permit.

Second tier offences include being parking without displaying a pay-and-display ticket and parking for longer than permitted.

Mr Clarke said: "The biggest difference the public is going to notice is the two-tier level of fines.

"The way it's done now will see the punishment fit the crime. After March 31 if you park in a disabled bay, for example, you will get fined more than you would for overstaying your welcome.

"They are trying to be fairer towards the motorist."

People paying their fines within 14 days would get a 50 per cent reduction.

It will also now illegal to park on yellow zig-zag lines, and motorists doing so face fines.

Chiltern District Council added that parking fines were not being used as an income generator.

Councillor Noel Brown, Chiltern's Cabinet member for community safety, said: "One of the things we get complaints about is parking enforcement. People want to see more of it rather than less."