Having left Malta after a pleasant vacation, my rental company let me know they would withhold €35 from my deposit due to a recorded parking contravention.
At the spot, in St Julians, I just got out to buy some medicine at the local pharmacy. Many cars were parked along the pavement and I had stopped there before without having any problem; maybe because no warden was there to fine us. It took me just a few minutes, as intended, but apparently somewhat longer than the three (?) minutes allowed.
I happen to know that the increasing usage of cameras for parking contraventions causes a lot of frustration with local citizens, in Malta and elsewhere. Because those cameras are supposed to be there for safety reasons.
However, the impression is that they serve local councils as an extra source of income in the first place.
As for tourists, it even makes for a hostile impression.
They should get sufficient information from the ADT including the legal procedures when they rent a car.