Service vehicle owners will have to pay $1,000 a year in order to use Hamilton loading zones in the course of their work.

The measure will be part of new legislation that is being drafted by the Transport Ministry, with the aim of cracking down on those who abuse their rights to park in the spaces.

Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt said he hoped the new regulations would be passed before the end of the current session of Parliament.

He explained that vehicles which park in loading zones will be given a parking ticket if they do not show that they are there for legitimate reasons within a time limit of ten minutes.

And he said the owners of servicing vehicles who wish to use loading zones will have to pay a $1,000 annual fee to the Corporation.

"If it was any less than this, or indeed free, we would envisage having hundreds of people applying for licences so that they can park in loading zones whenever they want."

He said the Corporation was arranging for the creation of special sets of parking spaces for vehicles owned by Hamilton businesses that have been taking up loading zones.

"Clearly there is a tremendous amount of pressure on parking in Hamilton and frankly it seems that everyone wants their interests taken care of," Mr. Sherratt said. "We have to try and balance the needs out and these new rules will go some way to freeing up loading zones and reducing the amount of double parking that goes on."