KINGSTON Council got the equivalent of £22.16 per head in parking fines for every person in the borough last year, with total penalties reaching £2,230,218 - up £20,000 from the previous 12-month period.
According to the 2001 census the daytime population of Kingston is about 100,000, which works out at just over £22 in fines per head, up from £21.89 the year before.
Over in Richmond it was £33.31 per head in parking fines last year, according to figures released this week.
In 2008-09, £3,729,961 was raised through parking penalties, down from £3,431,062 the year before.
The two boroughs did not have the highest totals - residents of Conservative-controlled Kensington and Chelsea forked out an average £85 per person.
The report, compiled by the Taxpayers' Alliance, revealed there had been a 16 per cent decrease in the fines collected nationally, but they still accused councils of using fines as a way of raising money.
Alex Henney, general secretary of the London Motorists' Action Group, said: "What's clear is that London boroughs have the highest charges and quite a number of them are tax-farming. We object to the high level of tickets. If you look at some councils, the surplus generated from parking is a significant proportion of their income. I think it's clear some councils have been tax-farming to generate a surplus in order to keep council tax down."
Local authorities have been able to assume responsibility for on and off street parking enforcement since 1991. In return they were allowed to keep all proceeds generated, which is ring-fenced for local transport and environment improvements.
But any local authority rated as among the highest performing by the Audit Commission - and this includes Richmond - has the freedom to spend the surplus in any way it likes.
A spokesman for Kingston Council said although the amount collected in fines had gone up, the number issued had actually dropped from 57,312 to 52,384.
Stephen Knight, deputy leader of Richmond Council, said: "The figures only show there are more tickets issued per head of population in some areas than others.
"This in itself is irrelevant as it makes no attempted to take into account varying traffic conditions or demand for parking. What is relevant is that in Richmond we run a firm but fair parking enforcement system.
He added: "We make every effort to be clear about where people can and cannot park and we work closely with our contractor to ensure tickets are issued correctly."
"It's worth remembering that money from fines helps pay for Freedom Passes to help older people travel for free and, as the Taxpayers' Alliance report acknowledges, they fund other local environmental improvements."
