Parking Infringement Query

Dont park in the side driveway to that rex car park – I have seen may yellow letters under windscreens there.

Also to the bumbleheaded fool who essentially blocked exit for a third of the carpark – parking in the middle of the lower right exit when the far right exits are blocked – good work.

Rex is good for parks if you get there before 0715 these days – worked in civic for 3 years never paid parking..Broken glass does not dissuade me – its clear to see my car is a bucket with nothing worth stealing in it.

The car-park behind the Rex used to be my free ‘park and walk’ of choice when I worked on Barry Drive up to six years ago. It was 15 minutes from the Rex to Barry Drive.

One possible deterrent: the occasional patch of broken glass on the ground and a couple of times, multiple sheets of paper taped to trees with notes going postal about filthy ****** thieving ******* scum junkie bastard ******** ****holes who’d knicked their gear from cars. Never fell prey myself. You also had/have to be there pretty early. Some of the latecomers used to park in the most bizarre spots, and though I thought they were begging for tickets, I never saw one of those baby-sh!t yellow envelopes once.

Anything on the Western side? Thats a decent walk to wrok in Summer for those who work on the western side anyway!

Overheard said :

rosie_bubz said :

yea the 2 cit car parks – the huge dirt one which is just one giant pothole, and the asphalt one on the side of cit towards russel are both $5 all day parking

And don’t you love playing ‘Working Parking Ticket Vending Machine Lotto’ there — which one out of four machines in a 500m radius is working this morning? Always fun when running late for work, and I saw many a student galloping around the pot-hole course, obivously running late for classes, trying to find a machine that was working.

.

haha so true so true – well a least we know the reason its $5 a day

rosie_bubz said :

yea the 2 cit car parks – the huge dirt one which is just one giant pothole, and the asphalt one on the side of cit towards russel are both $5 all day parking

And don’t you love playing ‘Working Parking Ticket Vending Machine Lotto’ there — which one out of four machines in a 500m radius is working this morning? Always fun when running late for work, and I saw many a student galloping around the pot-hole course, obivously running late for classes, trying to find a machine that was working.

They’d periodically shut the place down over the weekend for ‘maintenance’ and I’d rock back in on Monday, maybe having witnessed furious activity on the weekend if I happened to be in the area, only to stare at the surface and wonder what they’d been getting up to for the past 48 hours.

yea the 2 cit car parks – the huge dirt one which is just one giant pothole, and the asphalt one on the side of cit towards russel are both $5 all day parking

The pot-holed dirt car-park across the road from CIT mentioned above used to be about $5 when I was last a regular there, but it may have gone up since then.

Where exactly do you get $5 parking in the city?

I noticed the parking on London Cct, that was recently sold off on the Western side went up to $9 a day, and $7.50 for 4 hours. Simply outrageous.

yea i have already sent my letter with photos i took so well see what happens
i drove past the carp park today and there was a car park exactly where i was when i got the ticket..grrrrr so angry!!

rosie_bubz said :

yea i spose so… they will do anything to get you to pay, and i dont want to waste money on courts, oh well ill give it a crack

At least try the letter option. That doesn’t cost (except the 55c stamp) and they can only say no.

Only you wouldn’t want to pin your hopes on success. With one of the two Melbourne experiences I might have mentioned above, I was told by one of the three (count them) transit cops who materialised to deal with me that if I wrote a letter to such and such a bureau I’d more than likely get off (first offence and some diabolical mitigating circumstances). Ultimately it didn’t happen and I was quite surprised (though grateful for her candour (sp?)) that the woman in the Ombudsman’s office told me to probably not bother.

yea well thanks everyone for helping 🙂

Overheard said :

But in both cases, short of going to the courts and spending more on the attempts than was worth the face value of the fines, I suspect you might reach a point where you might have to suck it up and pay the fine. Because ultimately, your vehicular neighbours notwithstanding, you were in the wrong.

yea i spose so… they will do anything to get you to pay, and i dont want to waste money on courts, oh well ill give it a crack

You can contest the fine by the means of writing to the address someone mentioned above. The inspectors do take pictures of every car they book, so it’s likely that they will have evidence to back their ticket, but that shouldn’t stop you contesting if you really think you weren’t in the wrong. They can only say no! lol

Parking inspectors are only human so they do make mistakes, so there is some chance..

I-filed said :

A year’s parking for $97 all up. bargain.

It ain’t necessarily so, to quote another song lyric. I had a friend who used to park at one of the ANU ovals on Barry Drive who said to me: ‘Even if you get fined, if you weigh up the cost of the fine versus parking over time, you’re ahead’.

Nup. She got pinged about three times in as many weeks which blew her theory (and her costings) to hell, while I somehow managed to skirt the fines by randomly well-timed movings of my car at lunch-time or early afternoons (totally good luck over good management).

rosie_bubz said :

I have had 2 tickets before where i know i was in the wrong so they were my fault and i paid them with no complaints, but this ticket is just unjustfied, unless they write back and give me a proper explanation i will fight it

Well, no, rosie. Sorry to press the point, but it is justified. It’s the fact your vehicular neighbours got off that’s not justified explicitly under the letter of the law. But as someone has already said (in quoting me from a previous post) they don’t always get all the fish.

I’d definitely have a crack at the title, as you are. And I have two (unsuccessful) attempts to get off 1. a parking fine, and 2. a fine for not having a valid ticket on the tram, both in Melbourne, both of which I could argue my dual innocence until I was blue in the face. But in both cases, short of going to the courts and spending more on the attempts than was worth the face value of the fines, I suspect you might reach a point where you might have to suck it up and pay the fine. Because ultimately, your vehicular neighbours notwithstanding, you were in the wrong.

A year’s parking for $97 all up. bargain.

Hercsie said :

Write to the parking review office, PO Box 225 Civic Square 2608 and state what you have already pointed out – lack of adequate signage is usually enough. Not that I am a frequent flyer or anything

: p

haha sure now.. na,
yea i have started writing a letter, i took heaps of photos so hopefully that will help me.
I have had 2 tickets before where i know i was in the wrong so they were my fault and i paid them with no complaints, but this ticket is just unjustfied, unless they write back and give me a proper explanation i will fight it

To those who don’t read the fine print on the back of their parking infringement notices, Part B states that you can Request Extension of Time to Pay Penalty. If you cry poor/financial difficulties in writing, then this extension is usually granted. I then throw about $10 per week via Bpay against the Infringment number, until it is no more!

Good luck.

Write to the parking review office, PO Box 225 Civic Square 2608 and state what you have already pointed out – lack of adequate signage is usually enough. Not that I am a frequent flyer or anything : p

ARTistic-U said :

overheard, aaaaaaah, that one. Free??? In Canberra??? Are you on this planet???

Okay. I stand corrected. Soz for confusion rosie.

My information is 12 months old (almost to the week, actually) but it was free in Sept 07.

overheard, aaaaaaah, that one. Free??? In Canberra??? Are you on this planet???

Okay. I stand corrected. Soz for confusion rosie.

ARTistic-U said :

rosie bubz, if you are referring to the gravel pot-holed carpark directly opposite the CIT, it is most definitely not free.

I am a full-time CIT student, and I have a voucher due to (1) being on a low income, and (2) being a full0time student.

CIT fought very hard to have the daily fee for regular users who are not full-time students on a low income, reduced to $5 a day. It is not free. The other two people near you probably had a white parking voucher attached to their windscreen.

Park appropriately next time, and walk perhaps walk the distance, or get a voucher if you are a f/t student on a low income.

No, ARTistic-U, it’s the ashphalt car-park due east of the pot-holed, pock-marked carpark you’re talking about, adjacent to Anzac Park West. It’s free if you get there at sparrow’s. I used to park there when I worked near Constitution Avenue, but if you get there late and try to get creative with your parking space, you do so at your own risk, as rosie has found to her cost.

rosie bubz, if you are referring to the gravel pot-holed carpark directly opposite the CIT, it is most definitely not free.

I am a full-time CIT student, and I have a voucher due to (1) being on a low income, and (2) being a full0time student.

CIT fought very hard to have the daily fee for regular users who are not full-time students on a low income, reduced to $5 a day. It is not free. The other two people near you probably had a white parking voucher attached to their windscreen.

Park appropriately next time, and walk perhaps walk the distance, or get a voucher if you are a f/t student on a low income.

Reply

Say wha DJ?

Why were you singled out? From an old post on RA that I liked,,,

Police Officer: Ever been fishing?
Driver: Yeah
Police Officer: Ever caught all the fish?

bailes23 said :

Is this the carpark you are talking about?
Reid Canberra

Note how many people are parked up the kerb (cars on left) and the cars blocking the road.

How did we ever live without Google Streetview…? :o)

bailes23 said :

Is this the carpark you are talking about?
Reid Canberra

Note how many people are parked up the kerb (cars on left) and the cars blocking the road.

yes! that is the carpark, i dont understand why, after ive been parking there for nearly a year i would suddenly get a ticket. im sure the inspectors come around more frequently than once a year

peterh said :

rosie_bubz said :

Yea you have to pay in the actual CIT car park but this car park is across the road and it is free all day parking, you dont need a voucher or cit sticker…
i did call them up an ask but they said i have to write to them,

how is it free all day parking?

are there signs there at all?

There are no signs at all, i know it is free parking because there are no ticket machines and i know you don’t need a voucehr, plus i have been parking there all year

dr.evil said :

rosie_bubz…what was the infringement for? The reason for issuing the ticket is usually on the ticket. That might help determine why you were singled out compared to the other two cars. Could be something like parking too close to and entrance or over footpath/access…

The ticket was for parking half up the curb and half on the road, and i was a good 5 metres from the path – however the car behind me was also half up the curb and half on the road and they were alot closer to the path than me, but no ticket for them

Is this the carpark you are talking about?
Reid Canberra

Note how many people are parked up the kerb (cars on left) and the cars blocking the road.

rosie_bubz…what was the infringement for? The reason for issuing the ticket is usually on the ticket. That might help determine why you were singled out compared to the other two cars. Could be something like parking too close to and entrance or over footpath/access…

rosie_bubz said :

Yea you have to pay in the actual CIT car park but this car park is across the road and it is free all day parking, you dont need a voucher or cit sticker…
i did call them up an ask but they said i have to write to them,

how is it free all day parking?

are there signs there at all?

Re the Loading zone query. Did you check to see whether the other vehicles had a loading zone permit? Pretty sure you can pay to have it against your registration, even if you are a sedan or passenger car

Sadly, I think you’re on a hiding to nothing here. I’m pretty sure that there are blanket ‘park in bays only’, ‘don’t park on verges’ type laws in place that negate the need for a ‘No Parking’ sign in every place where parking isn’t allowed.

While copping a fine while those around you didn’t must seem something akin to Kamahl’s left test!cle (i.e. it ain’t right and it ain’t fair), I suspect any argument will be like the todger of a 90 year old judge who’s forgotten to take his viagra: it won’t stand up in court.

Caveat Parker. (Beware of the Anorak.)

tylersmayhem said :

Wow, when I used to attend CIT, we had to pay for parking, albeit discounted rates!

You’ll find that you’ll get a ticket anywhere in Canberra if you do not park in designated parking bays. This even goes as far as if you were to park outside a mates place, and your car is obstructing a footpath. Therefore, parking up on a gutter will make you a target, and probably a fair one. Just because other folk decide to do it doesn’t mean it’s allowed.

In saying all of that, I cannot explain why your car was singled out amongst other cars. I’m sure there is an explanation. Are you supposed to have CIT stickers or vouchers displayed. If so, was yours clearly visible?

Yea you have to pay in the actual CIT car park but this car park is across the road and it is free all day parking, you dont need a voucher or cit sticker…
i did call them up an ask but they said i have to write to them,

Granny said :

Maybe the other cars arrived after the parking inspector had been past. Or maybe they do it for a bit of a laugh when they’re bored.

Na all the other cars were there before i got there…

Growling Ferret said :

Maybe you should not park illegally and you won’t get a ticket.

as i said before i didint know it was illegal – no signs to say no parking

Wow, when I used to attend CIT, we had to pay for parking, albeit discounted rates!

You’ll find that you’ll get a ticket anywhere in Canberra if you do not park in designated parking bays. This even goes as far as if you were to park outside a mates place, and your car is obstructing a footpath. Therefore, parking up on a gutter will make you a target, and probably a fair one. Just because other folk decide to do it doesn’t mean it’s allowed.

In saying all of that, I cannot explain why your car was singled out amongst other cars. I’m sure there is an explanation. Are you supposed to have CIT stickers or vouchers displayed. If so, was yours clearly visible?

Worth following up, whether you can get out of it or not is an entirely different matter.

i’m sure they would tell you exactly what it is for if you ask them. don’t they take photos of the car these days?

you would be very very lucky to get out of it anyway.

Many of these carparks have smallish signs at the entry points that say “Park in Bays only”. This means that any car parked out of a designated “bay” can be fined. In many cases it seem open to interpretation and I reckon this would be the case as the whole place opposite CIT is a shambles….

Well that invalidates my whole point then 🙁

I am not too cluey on road rules.
That’s really not a phrase I want to read coming from a person who is in control of a ton of steel on the same roads as me…
Though experience would suggest that it’s not an uncommon state for drivers to be in…

(Yes, I’m almost certain you only meant it in terms of technicalities surrounding parking etc, yes thereofre I was trying to be kind of funny, no I won’t give up my day job).

hk0reduck – the fine’s now $97 not $70.

Maybe you should not park illegally and you won’t get a ticket.

I’d like to suggest a scenario:

Parking inspectors are normal people just like you (but not like me).
They only give out tickets because it is their job, not because they want to hurt your feelings.
They know that they have to issue tickets because otherwise they will be seen as slacking and potentially lose their job.
They come across 3 cars breaking the law, all they have to do is issue 1 ticket and their supervisor will think they were where they were supposed to be and have done their job.

You can dispute any traffic fine, whether or not you’ll get off is another matter.

And lastly you’ve most likely been receiving free parking for ages and people who study at places like ANU or work in civic pay $5+ per day. You’ve only had to pay the $70.00 over however long you’ve been using the parking so live with it.

Maybe they are labour supporters and you are a liberal supporter? Do you have any liberal stickers on your car?

Maybe the other cars arrived after the parking inspector had been past. Or maybe they do it for a bit of a laugh when they’re bored.

I also received a ticket on the weekend – on Bunda Street, parking in the loading zone – meanwhile there were a number of other cars also parked there, also illegally, but my car was the only one with a ticket. Was with people from interstate, so thought they must’ve targeted the NSW plates, otherwise I’m at a loss.

I concede that we were parked illegally and don’t have any issues with the fine on that account, but thought it was interesting that it was only our car that received a ticket.