Motorists who fail to pay three parking tickets face having their cars clamped or even towed away under new laws due to take effect in two months.

Council-employed traffic wardens will gain the power to take immediate action if they notice a car with three unpaid parking fines, even if the vehicle is parked legally at the time. The owner will only be able to reclaim the car once the fines have been paid.

Local authorities in London – where fine-dodging has become a severe problem – will be the first to receive the new powers, with councils across the country expected to seek similar rights in due course. Motorists who fail to pay fines for minor traffic offences will face similar action.

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