'Punched, spat on, abused': union says no ticketless fines puts rangers at risk

A City of Newcastle parking inspector in the Hunter Street Mall in May. Picture by Marina Neil

THE UNION says removing ticketless parking fines will take rangers back to the "bad old days" when they suffered broken jaws, black eyes and abuse for "simply doing their job".

State government proposed reforms issued on Thursday will make it tougher for councils, like Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast, to dish out ticketless parking fines.