Motorists filled ACT government coffers with $11.4 million from parking fines last financial year, a 25 per cent increase on the $9.13 million claimed a year earlier.
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Revenue from parking is set to grow, with night pay parking announced in the June budget and a smart parking trial in Manuka early next year.
New data contained in reports to the ACT Legislative Assembly reveals 103,818 parking fines were issued during 2014-15, with 7302 withdrawn and 1319 contested in court.
Parking officers delivered more than 10,000 infringements in February, March and May and as few as 5000 to 7000 in the second half of 2014.
An average of 15 parking inspectors patrol the territory each day.
The $11.4 million does not include revenue from parking tickets in the parliamentary triangle, which goes to the National Capital Authority.
The authority waived nearly $30,000 in revenue from parking fines last month due to an administrative error.
The cost of issuing a parking ticket in Canberra is close to $43 per fine, but increases to $471 should a fine be withdrawn.
Disputed tickets that end up the subject of a court hearing in the ACT cost $5123.
Changes to pay parking in the city are expected to create an additional $5 million in revenue to the ACT government over four years, with changes effective from September 1.
The changes have been criticised by business owners who fear they are driving down patronage at restaurants on London Circuit and Lonsdale Street and reducing profit.
Those parking at London Circuit, the Civic Pool, next to Commonwealth Avenue and at the Canberra Institute of Technology are now charged until 10.30pm on weekdays and from 9am until 10.30pm on weekends.
Parking hours for all-day tickets purchased on weekdays have been extended to 10.30pm and will rise to $15 from July. Workers who park in the city all day will pay $18 a day from July 2018.
The changes are expected to collect $1.05 million in new revenue in 2015-16, rising to $1.3 million for 2016-17 and 2017-18, and rising again to $1.35 million in 2018-19.
More revenue will come from a planned 6 per cent increase to territory-wide parking fees, reaping the government about $1 million each year.
The increases are designed to encourage changes in driver behaviour, promoting short-stay parking turnover and public transport use around Canberra.
In September, the government confirmed a one-year trial of smart parking technology in Manuka.
The trial, which is likely to result in more fines for motorists and improved convenience, will see the installation of car park sensors, real-time traffic signs, and smartphone applications.
A free Wi-Fi network will be introduced in the precinct before the smart parking trial begins, although a launch date has not been announced by the government.
The trial has been welcomed by the Inner South Community Council and the Property Council of Australia ACT as long as it does not reduce the number of short-terms parks or become a revenue-raising exercise.
