MOTORISTS fighting parking tickets and traffic fines in Brighton and Hove will be the first in the county to be able to appeal on the internet.

A new appeals system has been developed by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) with consumer complaints service Resolver which promises to make it easier and faster to challenge fines.

Brighton and Hove City Council is the first local authority in the country to use the system which the TPT is hoping will be rolled out nationwide by the end of the year.

Drivers who receive fines for parking or bus lane infractions will be able to appeal the charge via their smartphone, tablet, laptop, or PC – instead of having to appeal via post.

Motorists will also have the option to upload videos and photographic evidence to better state their case.

In 2014/15 there were 122,737 parking fines issued by Brighton and Hove City Council but only 465 appeals and there were 5,542 fines issued for bus lane contraventions, with only 19 appeals, according the city council’s annual parking report.

James Walker, managing director of Resolver, said: “I think more people will appeal as it is easier. Also you can upload videos and photos of what happened as evidence so it makes it easier for people to show the information on why they should be let off – so it should help the appeals success rate.”

The TPT also estimates the new system will save local authorities approximately £200 per case in processing appeals – which for last year’s parking fine appeals would mean a saving of £93,000.

Paul Nicholls, Brighton and Hove City Council’s policy and development manager, said: “We are very excited to be the first local authority to use the portal. It reduces the time taken to process appeals, streamlines our communication with appellants and cuts the cost of administration, which benefits all of our residents.”

It should also be faster to get a response to your appeal with the adjudicators able to decide cases within days rather than weeks.

Caroline Sheppard, chief adjudicator of the TPT, said: “Getting a parking ticket can be a frustrating experience, but our new portal makes the appeals process quicker, simpler and more transparent, putting paid to the old adage that ‘the wheels of justice grind slowly’.”