Tourism Minister Ewart Brown will ask Police to stop ticketing ferry travellers' cars until a long-term solution can be found to parking problems at the Rockaway stop.

Commuters were left counting the cost of Government's green drive this week, with many motorists picking up tickets when the car park filled up.

At least a dozen cars parked illegally on a road verge at Rockaway were slapped with $50 fines on Wednesday, sparking anger from commuters who lost out to civil servants using the ferry stop on the Sandys and Southampton border.

Government's 4,000 workers had been urged to shun the car in favour of alternative forms of transport during the campaign, but the popularity of the idea led to the Rockaway car park overflowing. Angry commuter Donna Patkos, who has been taking the ferry for about a year, said she was upset about being fined and urged Government to void the tickets.

"Quite a number of us that use the ferry everyday got $50 tickets on our cars because the parking lot was full. I think it's unfair to urge people to use public transportation and then penalise them with parking fines."

Tim Simons, who went down to the ferry stop to pick up his wife, said he noticed around a dozen ticketed cars.

"They were not in anyone's way, it isn't a through road," he said.

Assistant Cabinet Secretary Warren Jones said at the time that there would be no reprieve for those facing fines. It is still unclear how many civil servants took part in the green commute. Mr. Jones said there were bound to be teething problems and civil servants were being polled to find out what could be improved.

Last night, Dr. Brown said more than 600 commuters use the Rockaway service daily, but there are only 100 parking spaces.

"It is unfortunate that some of our commuters have received parking citations at Rockaway, but it shows how popular the ferry service has become. It is illustrative of the tremendous success of the ferry service and I encourage our customers to continue to use the service as we seek solutions to the parking situation. The Ministry is co-ordinating with the Ministry of Works and Engineering and Housing, and the Bermuda Police Service to quickly resolve the parking problem," he said.

Asked what this would involve, he said: "Temporarily, we want people not to be ticketed, if we can work that out with the Police. We are trying to encourage people to use the ferry system."

Asked if this could encourage dangerous or anti-social parking, he said he would negotiate with those who designate the 'no parking' zones to open up those that would allow for safe parking.

And asked if those ticketed this week would be able to get the fines cancelled, he replied: "I don't know yet, but we'll try."

Meanwhile, he encouraged West End residents to consider using the Cavello Bay or Watford Bridge stops if they had experienced parking problems at Rockaway. He added that a long-term plan to expand the Rockaway car park would be looked at.

However, his words were greeted with outrage from Long Point Lane resident Cornelia Young, 69, who lives near the Cavello Bay stop.

"There is no car park at Cavello Bay and nowhere for people to park. They have been parking on our own private road and there's no room for fire engines or ambulances to get through. It's a big fat nuisance," she said.

Mrs. Young, who has lived on the lane for 26 years, added: "I don't know where Dr. Brown gets this stupid idea. Now people will park on our road and say he say's it's OK. It's going to be a catastrophe."

She and her neighbours have been leaving notes on cars this summer to no avail, and Mrs. Young complained that on all but one occasion the Police "stared at me like I was nuts" when she asked them to do something about it as there is no yellow line or sign. Responding, Dr. Brown said: "She should not be horrified. She should pick up the phone and call us and tell us what the problem is. Bermuda has a shortage of space but we work things out. That's the Bermudian tradition. We can fix it."