The authority is to start using a car equipped with the latest Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to fight against illegal parking, particularly outside of school.
The vehicle - the first of its kind to be used by a local authority in the Tees Valley - has a camera mounted on the ceiling and is equipped with a computer full of details on all aspects of the implementation of parking through city.
As the car moves through the city, the camera automatically records the license plate numbers of cars parked illegally. This information can be used to issue Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) fines of 70 pounds (reduced to £ 35 if paid within 14 days).
Phil Hepburn, Hartlepool Borough Council Parking Services Manager, said: "We stress that we are unwilling to support the selfish actions of drivers who put lives at risk by ignoring parking restrictions and park vehicles as close as possible to their destinations.
"We've used a variety of tactics - including training, promotions and manual application - to try to change the attitudes of drivers, but many still choose to ignore the parking restrictions that put children and other pedestrians at risk.
"This work will continue, but the car camera allows us to more effective enforcement of parking restrictions outside the school, and also means that schools will be visited more often than is currently achievable by agents civil enforcement alone. "
Supervisor Pamela Hargreaves, the Council of Ministers, State Reform and Development, said: "I was approached by some principals worried about the level of inconsiderate and illegal parking outside the school, despite previous educational and promotional campaigns.
"The problem is dangerous and inconsiderate parking, particularly outside schools is a serious problem, and something that we decided to intervene.
"We believe that the car will help us improve our security, but it is also important to stress that motorists have nothing to fear if they follow the traffic rules and park legally."
Vehicle and related systems - is considered the most efficient and cost effective method of enforcement currently available to it - is to pay £ 40,000, with funding from the 2010/11 Local Transport Plan (LTP), a pot of money provided by the capital Government to fund transport schemes.
The Council has now launched a public effort to motorists aware of the new car camera and schools were invited to hand out explanatory letters to parents by their students.
The initiative received the support of school leaders say any attempt to improve safety outside schools is welcome.
Helen O'Brien, headteacher at Clavering Primary School, said: "The car's camera seems to be a useful way to relieve congestion around the school at the busiest day."
Louise Perfect, headteacher at Grange Primary School, added: "Every headteacher would support such an initiative comes to keeping children safe and parents wonder whether they really need use their cars on the people running the school had enough. warnings and that the next step. They can not say if they get a ticket because they do not have to park illegally in the first place. "
Alan Kennedy, National President of the GB road safety - an organization representing local government teams on road safety in the UK, also welcomed the camera car, saying, "By preventing dangerous and illegal schools outdoor parking, we can reduce risks and ensure that children and parents are able to walk to school and cycle more safely. "
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