Starting Monday cars parked illegally will be clamped.

Twenty clamps were purchased by the Corporation of Hamilton and will be used on cars that are illegally left in parking lots in the city.

Hamilton Mayor Sutherland Madeiros said: "There are an increasing number of cars being parked in City car parks without paying the appropriate fee. This practice not only erodes Corporation revenues, but parking beyond the expiry time disadvantages other motorists trying to legitimately park, particularly in short-term car parks, where parking space is often at a premium."

The clamping will be done by employees of Safeguard Security.

Any four-wheeled vehicle that does not have a valid parking permit or voucher in the city's parking lots can be clamped.

Vehicle owners will also be fined $100 and they will only be able to get their cars back after calling Safeguard between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Mr. Madeiros: "This action is not one that I particularly relish, but protecting the Corporation of Hamilton's revenue stream on behalf of the taxpayers is of prime concern."