Private parking companies are handing out fines 50% higher this year with an average of nearly 30,000 a day being issued, the analysis shows.
A record 2.7 million was issued between April and June, up from 1.8 million in the same period last year.
The figures come from a data analysis of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) conducted by the PA news agency.
Private parking companies have been accused of chasing unreasonable debts and fees, as well as using confusing and misleading signs.
A long-awaited government code of practice designed to “clean up” the industry was withdrawn in July following a legal challenge by parking companies.
About 176 parking companies asked the DVLA for vehicle owner records between April and June as they tried to find out who would send them fines.
The top product was ParkingEye, bought 521,000 records, paying £2.50 each. The DVLA said it made no profit because the money only covered the cost of processing the request.
The increase in the number of fines issued is even more apparent when looking further afield.
In 2017, only 1.3 million applications were requested between April and June, less than half of this year.
The RAC Foundation said it was “inconceivable” that so many motorists would intentionally break parking rules.
The organization’s director, Steve Gooding, said the sector was “booming” with “more people participating all the time”.
“The appeal can only be one thing – the opportunity to make a substantial profit before the government introduces changes – which now appear to have been delayed – to level the playing field,” he said.
“It is unthinkable that, every year, millions of motorists are preparing to run up to £100 each, especially when household budgets are so tight. This latest data. is a sign of a broken system.”
Jack Cousens, AA’s head of road policy, said companies appear to give “as much notice as possible” before the code is deployed.
It will come into effect at the end of next year and reduce the cap on certain parking offenses from £100 to £50.
However, it was withdrawn pending review of the new fees and target date is unclear.
Lisa Webb, from the consumer organization Which?, suggests those penalized by companies not recognized by the trade body “could ignore them”.
They are not authorized to access the DVLA database, she said, so “generally cannot pursue you for payment”.
A government spokesman acknowledged there were “a handful of cowboy companies” in the sector and that the code of practice would be in place “as soon as possible”.
