Enforcement of car-parking restrictions in Cromwell and Alexandra's town centres is about to begin, but it will be friendly to start with.
Central Otago District Council roading Murray Hasler said the enforcement would begin on Monday, with a ''short period of education where friendly warnings will be given''.
After a fortnight, infringement notices would be handed out.
Enforcement of the restrictions had been delayed because the necessary administration had taken longer than anticipated, Mr Hasler said.
Restricted parking zones and signs were introduced in 2007 and a roading bylaw, which introduced parking fines, took effect in 2015.
The council had first tried the ''voluntary compliance'' route, but people ignored the restrictions when they knew they were not being enforced, council infrastructure services manager Julie Muir said.
The parking restrictions will be in the business centres of Alexandra and Cromwell, from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and will range from 10 minutes to two-hour time limits, depending on the location. Infringement notices will be for $40.
Ms Muir said the parking restrictions were not expected to be a big revenue-generating exercise. Rather, it was hoped people would abide by the restrictions.
The council has employed Cougar Security to carry out the task. The firm also enforces the Queenstown Lakes District Council's parking bylaws.
