Having just cleaned out my car I counted 125 pay and display tickets in my car when I cleaned it out. That is an aggregate cost approaching £250 - and you thought fuel pricing was bad enough.
Don't I pay enough fuel tax, road tax and car related VAT costs to get free parking?
If car parks used barriers with number plate recognition and card payments on exit there would be.
1) No litter
2) No overstay fines*
3) More trees due to the paper saving.
4) Less administrative costs to the car park authority.
I think reason 2 is why most car parks use a pay and display method.
*I got a £40 fine for a 15 minute overstay in a car park!