While clamping in the capital may have forced more Bermudians to pay their tickets, it hasn't encouraged them to park legally.

The Corporation of Hamilton says the number of cars getting clamped has remained steady for most of the last year, with over 100 vehicles being clamped almost every month by Safeguard Security staff.

Safeguard CEO Carlton Crockwell Sr said: "We thought it would ease up. It's been pretty consistent all the way around. Even when Number One car park was closed for a period of time, our numbers did not decrease."

While there was a drop in clamping during some months, such as last July when only 21 vehicles were targeted, the average for the year ending this April was 104 vehicles per month. The busiest month since statistics began being recorded in May 2008 was this March, with 178 vehicles clamped.

Figures released in 2007 revealed that over three years, the Government lost close to $2.5 million in unpaid parking fines, with less then 58 percent of parking tickets issued in the City of Hamilton ever being paid. The city's clamping initiative, which started in 2007, was credited with improving those numbers.

While Safeguard originally brought in 20 clamps for Hamilton, that number has now doubled.

"We're up to 35, 40 clamps," said Mr. Crockwell. "All different types, too. "Now we're clamping a lot of bikes. They can get clamped just like cars can."