A transmission shifter includes a shift lever movable between gear positions, a pawl, a pawl blocker, a permanent magnet, an electro-magnet, and an electrical circuit for selectively activating the electro-magnet when a predetermined vehicle condition is sensed. The permanent magnet's attraction to an iron based surface of the electro-magnet normally holds the blocker in a pawl-blocking position, keeping the shift lever in park position, until the electrical circuit activates the electro-magnet and the pawl is depressed. When activated, the electro-magnet biases the blocker toward a pawl-unblocked position. A ramp lever keeps the pawl blocker in the park position until the pawl moves the ramp lever and blocker together, thus allowing the shift lever to be moved from park position. The park lock system is characterized by an absence of movement in response to an electrical signal to an electro-mechanical device.