The parking authority's ParkPlus cars are mounted with cameras that monitor licence plates of vehicles. (CBC)

The Calgary Parking Authority, facing a landslide of public complaints, is rescinding 449 tickets issued this week for vehicles that parked "facing out" in park-and-ride lots.

The authority announced on Friday it is withdrawing the $50 tickets issued over the previous four days.

"These tickets affected an unreasonable number of paying customers and we don't wish to penalize those people who are making reasonable efforts to pay and abide by the new parking conditions," said general manager Dale Fraser.

"On behalf of the Calgary Parking Authority, I apologize for any inconvenience we have caused."

ParkPlus, a new pay system, was introduced at all Calgary Transit park-and-ride lots this spring. It relies on cameras, mounted on a city car, to monitor licences of parked vehicles.

Signs like this are posted at every park-and-ride lot in Calgary, according to the Calgary Parking Authority. (Monty Kruger/CBC)

If a vehicle has backed in, or driven through, to park in a stall, the licence plate cannot be seen by the ParkPlus cameras.

Signs were erected at each entryway to park-and-ride lots stating "Park Facing In – ONLY," and warning flyers were left on vehicle windshields in September.

This was the first week the parking authority began enforcing the park "facing in" rule.

"We will be taking additional steps to provide more signage and a longer compliance period to allow paying customers to adjust their parking behaviour," added Fraser.

Additional temporary signs will be posted in the lots, he said.

Anyone who has already paid the parking ticket for "facing out" will automatically receive a refund.