The daily average of fines issued by local wardens has increased by almost 68 per cent since 2012.

Answering a parliamentary question by Censu Galea (PN), Local Government Minister Owen Bonnici presented the latest data indicating that during the past eight months an average of 604 fines was being issued every day by the Local Enforcement System Agency’s (LESA) operators.

In October 2015, LESA replaced the local enforcement system following a consultation process, with the intent of creating a fairer and more transparent system.

When the former system was still in place, the daily average was 629 fines, meaning there has been a marginal four per cent dip.

During the launch of the new system, Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Stefan Buontempo remarked that wardens had developed a negative reputation over the years.

We want wardens to be professional law enforcers

“Unfortunately, many people negatively perceive wardens as tax gatherers rather than as people keeping order in the streets,” Dr Buontempo said.

“We want wardens to be professional law enforcers that truly help citizens, rather than lurking to hand out tickets. The process signals the start of a voyage towards a local enforcement system that will make a difference in people’s lives.”

Out of the 146,156 tickets issued by LESA between last October and May, 11,961 were handed out in Valletta, followed by Sliema (9,775), Qormi (7,773), St Julian’s (6,998) and St Paul’s Bay (6,924).

During the same period, the lowest number of fines was registered in three Gozitan localities: San Lawrenż (5), Kerċem (14) and Għasri (17). However 3,991 motorists were fined in Victoria.

While the number of fines remained largely constant within the localities, tickets issued in Qormi plummeted from 1,017 in October 2015 to 638 last month.

LESA issued 1,562 tickets in Mdina, more than Santa Venera (1,367) and Marsalokk (1,113).

Between January 2012 and last September, a staggering 609,794 tickets were issued, with a value of €19.1 million. However the value of the tickets that were actually paid was 30 per cent less (€13.3 million).

Fines by district, 2012 to 2016