The new service has been developed by the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) in partnership with online consumer complaints service Resolver, and is intended to provide a simpler, more effective way to fight unfairly awarded tickets.

The service has initially been launched by Brighton & Hove City Council and TPT plans to roll it out to every council in the country by the end of this year.

The service will enable drivers who receive a Penalty Charge Notice for parking or bus lane contraventions in England (outside London) and Wales to appeal the fine via their smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC, rather than through the post. They’ll also be able to upload videos and photographic evidence.

The system also allows people to appeal fines for the Dartford Crossing and Durham congestion charge.

It also makes the process quicker and cheaper for the authorities that issued the fine, with independent adjudicators at the Tribunal able to decide cases within days rather than weeks.

Caroline Sheppard, chief adjudicator of the TPT, said: “Getting a parking ticket can be a frustrating experience, but our new portal makes the appeals process quicker, simpler and more transparent, putting paid to the old adage that ‘the wheels of justice grind slowly’.

“The platform has already generated considerable interest from other areas of the UK judiciary because it is fast, efficient, accessible and will bring cost savings to local authorities as well as simplifying the process for those appealing.”

Brighton’s Policy and Development manager Paul Nicholls said: “We are very excited to be the first local authority to use the portal. It reduces the time taken to process appeals, streamlines our communication with appellants and cuts the cost of administration, which benefits all of our residents.”