Police have warned anyone caught abusing parking regulations in a Nottinghamshire town will be fined.
Over the past two months, police in Mansfield town centre have issued more than 100 parking tickets.
Police had given up responsibility for organising traffic wardens but new community support officers have not come on line to take over the role
So officers have begun patrolling the area to enforce traffic laws and therefore ease congestion.
Officers said some drivers are under the misconception that, because traffic wardens have been removed, there are few road restrictions.