A VEHICLE linked to hundreds of unpaid parking fines has been seized in Salisbury in what council leaders say is one of the most extreme cases of persistent offending in the county.

Wiltshire Council confirmed the car had built up more than 300 penalty charge notices (PCNs) over time, with debts exceeding £3,000 under its current keeper alone.

An investigation by the council’s parking services team uncovered that the vehicle had been registered using false details, including the address of a legitimate business with no connection to the offences.

Since October 2025, the current registered keeper has accumulated more than 140 unpaid fines.

Before that, the vehicle was linked to another individual who racked up over 150 PCNs, making it one of the most prolific offending vehicles in Wiltshire.

The car was seized earlier this month in a joint operation involving council officers and enforcement agents Rundles.

Cabinet member for highways Cllr Martin Smith said: “We have a small number of motorists who repeatedly refuse to pay to park, either in car parks or on the public highway, and instead allow large numbers of PCNs to accumulate.

“In this case, the driver has been a complete nuisance to neighbours and the wider area, and our priority was to remove the vehicle from the road and send a clear message that persistent evasion will not be tolerated.

“Unpaid parking penalties place a significant burden on the council and ultimately on taxpayers, but they also cause real inconvenience for residents and legitimate businesses.

“We are particularly concerned about a growing pattern of vehicles being registered using false names and the addresses of genuine businesses without their knowledge or consent, unfairly implicating owners who have no connection to these offences.”

The council warned that if the outstanding fines are not paid, the vehicle could be sold at auction to recover the debt.

Officials are urging motorists struggling to pay fines to come forward early, warning that ignoring penalties can lead to escalating costs – and even the loss of their vehicle.