Parking fine madness? Think of the children!

Aladdin1963 said :

I have recently received a notification from the Justice and Community Safety Branch regarding the parking of vehicles on the nature strip in Ngunnawal being unsafe.

I would like to ask where does one park when the ACT planning has allowed suburbs to be built that are so densely populated and the streets so narrow? If I were to park on the street the vehicle would pose more of a danger than where I currently park.

When we moved in we had no kids and only one car.

Now the kids have grown and all have their own cars.

Not too many places around that can accommodate six cars.The law needs to be changed so that serial wingers have to find something else to complain about.

Yeah I think the rules are a bit rigid. It’s really a case by case basis thing. At times, being on the road causing an obstacle is unsafe but you can fit your car on the nature strip just fine and it’s better despite being less legal.

I have recently received a notification from the Justice and Community Safety Branch regarding the parking of vehicles on the nature strip in Ngunnawal being unsafe. I would like to ask where does one park when the ACT planning has allowed suburbs to be built that are so densely populated and the streets so narrow? If I were to park on the street the vehicle would pose more of a danger than where I currently park. When we moved in we had no kids and only one car. Now the kids have grown and all have their own cars. Not too many places around that can accommodate six cars.The law needs to be changed so that serial wingers have to find something else to complain about.

rhino said :

puggy said :

rhino said :

And do you disagree with my point? Or do you just think that in this specific circumstance there are ppl BEING significantly harmed by the OP’s example?

I didn’t do it in the most clever way, just my point is that just because you don’t think parking on nature strips doesn’t harm anyone, doesn’t make it true. I’m frustrated by those parking on verges in my area. The cars are parked with backs ends hanging out onto the road, less than ten metres from an intersection. That’s dangerous for traffic, particularly at night. There are also others who decide to park six wide, straying onto the neighbour’s well kept bit.

Clearly we are picturing a different scenario in our minds, but my philosophy on it holds true. If your car is in the way of everyone and a danger, then it is causing someone harm and it counts as a crime by my moral compass. I believe there are cases though where legally you are allowed to park alongside the road where you are in everyone’s way and people can’t drive in both directions without someone giving way, yet parking up a bit further off the road onto the grass is illegal, despite being clearly more considerate. If you are nowhere near a corner and your car doesn’t block anything other than the view of your grass and you have no choice but to park there because you are having guests over at your house and the only alternative would be parking in the middle or the road, or in someone elses driveway, blocking them completely, then parking up on the grass is fine by my books. Also, if it’s your 21st birthday or something, other guests are allowed to park up a bit on the nature strip of other nearby houses if it isn’t blocking them getting out or anything. This one is a little invonvenient/rude but as a rare thing, it is excusable.

exactly.

most of my neighbours have landscaped nature strips, meaning that its impossible to park on them, so their visitors park on the road. ocasionly, like on footy grand finals or w/e there is a car parked on either side of the street, making it hard for cars to fit through, and impossible for my work ute to fit through, meaning on two ocasions a car has been scratched by my ute.
it also makes it even harder to see kids behind a car on the road than kids behind a car on nature strip.

puggy said :

rhino said :

And do you disagree with my point? Or do you just think that in this specific circumstance there are ppl BEING significantly harmed by the OP’s example?

I didn’t do it in the most clever way, just my point is that just because you don’t think parking on nature strips doesn’t harm anyone, doesn’t make it true. I’m frustrated by those parking on verges in my area. The cars are parked with backs ends hanging out onto the road, less than ten metres from an intersection. That’s dangerous for traffic, particularly at night. There are also others who decide to park six wide, straying onto the neighbour’s well kept bit.

Clearly we are picturing a different scenario in our minds, but my philosophy on it holds true. If your car is in the way of everyone and a danger, then it is causing someone harm and it counts as a crime by my moral compass. I believe there are cases though where legally you are allowed to park alongside the road where you are in everyone’s way and people can’t drive in both directions without someone giving way, yet parking up a bit further off the road onto the grass is illegal, despite being clearly more considerate. If you are nowhere near a corner and your car doesn’t block anything other than the view of your grass and you have no choice but to park there because you are having guests over at your house and the only alternative would be parking in the middle or the road, or in someone elses driveway, blocking them completely, then parking up on the grass is fine by my books. Also, if it’s your 21st birthday or something, other guests are allowed to park up a bit on the nature strip of other nearby houses if it isn’t blocking them getting out or anything. This one is a little invonvenient/rude but as a rare thing, it is excusable.

I wish more people got fined for parking on the nature strip. Our neighbours and their kids park on the nature strip outside both our houses meaning I can’t see out my drivway some days.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-car-park-dilemma-20120814-245p9.html

“Mr Davidson said new developments around his neighbourhood in the north of Braddon and towards Merici College had a legacy of cars cluttering streets and nature strips.”

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-car-park-dilemma-20120814-245p9.html#ixzz23U0ErXGY

You guys think you have problems? Whinge, whinge, whinge. In the 1970s the Uni of Melbourne had a two tier parking permit system (based on position level). Being in the lower tier I got an off campus parking spot after 7 years and an on campus spot after 9 years.

Now to go off topic slightly. Today I got a speeding ticket (camera) and of course it wasn’t my fault – really, really truly! It was for speeding in Sydney. After about an hour sorting out their website with a flawed software site I finally submitted my claim for justice – wrong car, wrong person. They so automate things that they can’t be bothered to check their pictures and innocent people have to prove their innocence (by submitting their own pictures to them). Wrong car, wrong person, white car versus black car, wrong number (just slightly). Yet I am the person who has to waste my time. Does anyone know how I can sue them? After all even if waived, waived for Ch.. sake, it probably stays against my name. Err, not that it would not have been justified on other occasions.

schmeah said :

How is this any different to others trying to weasel out of paying parking infringement fines? Everyone knows your not meant to park on the nature strip; sure people do it because it’s often not enforced but when it is have the balls to acknowledge that you did the wrong thing and in the future park elsewhere.

And do you really think this is an infringement on your personal liberties?! Do you think being required to wear a seatbelt, stop at red lights and pay taxes is an similar infringement? As others have said this policy has been around a long time. Given you don’t know this and are trying to shirk responsibility for a minor traffic fine I’d say you’re probably too far gone to vote responsibly anyway.

To be correct it’s not a policy, you cannot be fined for a policy. It is law. Just to clarify.

rhino said :

And do you disagree with my point? Or do you just think that in this specific circumstance there are ppl BEING significantly harmed by the OP’s example?

I didn’t do it in the most clever way, just my point is that just because you don’t think parking on nature strips doesn’t harm anyone, doesn’t make it true. I’m frustrated by those parking on verges in my area. The cars are parked with backs ends hanging out onto the road, less than ten metres from an intersection. That’s dangerous for traffic, particularly at night. There are also others who decide to park six wide, straying onto the neighbour’s well kept bit.

Genie said :

Hmmmmm maybe I should start complaining to the rangers about my neighbour.

I live in a battle-axe property on a busy street, because it’s a the bottom of a hill – car fly down the street well above the speed limit, my front neighbour ALWAYS parks on the median strip. This blocks our view and also stops us from using the medium strip as a “turning bay” to exit our driveway front wards.

I’ve never understood this with our neighbour… they have a driveway long enough for 3-4 cars yet ALWAYS park on the median strip. They live by themself, no other cars..

Or you could talk to him.

Hmmmmm maybe I should start complaining to the rangers about my neighbour.

I live in a battle-axe property on a busy street, because it’s a the bottom of a hill – car fly down the street well above the speed limit, my front neighbour ALWAYS parks on the median strip. This blocks our view and also stops us from using the medium strip as a “turning bay” to exit our driveway front wards.

I’ve never understood this with our neighbour… they have a driveway long enough for 3-4 cars yet ALWAYS park on the median strip. They live by themself, no other cars..

rhino said :

puggy said :

rhino said :

… Enforcing laws for things where there are no victims [that I can be bothered to think about] only solidifies contempt for the law [that I can be bothered to think about] in general.

That doesnt really make sense. The law that I can be bothered to think about?

And please elaborate on exactly what all of these things are that you claim I deliberately didn’t bother thinking about?

And do you disagree with my point? Or do you just think that in this specific circumstance there are ppl BEING significantly harmed by the OP’s example?

puggy said :

rhino said :

… Enforcing laws for things where there are no victims [that I can be bothered to think about] only solidifies contempt for the law [that I can be bothered to think about] in general.

That doesnt really make sense. The law that I can be bothered to think about?

And please elaborate on exactly what all of these things are that you claim I deliberately didn’t bother thinking about?

And do you disagree with my point? Or do you just think that in this specific circumstance there are ppl ring significantly harmed by the OP’s example?

rhino said :

The rule of thumb for my moral compass is to ask yourself if it is doing any harm [that I can be bothered to think about] to anyone? If no harm is done [that I can be bothered to think about], then there is no offence [that I can be bothered to think about] morally in my book. … Enforcing laws for things where there are no victims [that I can be bothered to think about] only solidifies contempt for the law [that I can be bothered to think about] in general.

Very Busy said :

A heavy handed authoritarian approach seems to increasingly be the order of the day over the past few years. Since the parked car in question wasn’t blocking the footpath it is highly probable that there really wasn’t any harm being done. However, if it is deemed appropriate to enforce the rule in this situation then surely a discretionary warning would have the same effect as a fine. The offence here probably isn’t as blatant as illegally parking in a bus stop or overstaying a time limit.

It’s very frustrating to see this ever increasing laziness to road rule enforcement. A blind eye is turned at breaches of so many of our road rules, yet this bloke is fined for harmlessly parking ot the front of his house.

Lets see some consistency and common sense. PLEASE……..and don’t treat your constituents with contempt.

This.

The rule of thumb for my moral compass is to ask yourself if it is doing any harm to anyone? If no harm is done, then there is no offence morally in my book. You can argue some borderline cases where something hasn’t happened, but the action has greatly increased the probability that it would. I believe that “greatly” is a requirement though. Enforcing laws for things where there are no victims only solidifies contempt for the law in general.

Wow I think I underestimated how people feel about this issue. That said, I once lived in a rental on a busy street, where our neighbours always parked their car – and occasionally their mate’s boat – on our nature strip (because their strip was barried with concrete sleepers) .. it was very frustrating trying to get in and out of our driveway, on a busy street, while trying to see around a flaming boat. It eventually got to the point where we would have to ask them to move their property elsewhere (their own driveway was a good start) .. I really have no issue with this policy, mundane and inconsequential as it is.

Solidarity said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Pitchka said :

I would park the car there again, hide behind a tree with a large saucepan, when the inspector approaches, knock him/her out with one hard and accurate blow to the back of the head.

Then, using their infringment notice issuing device contraption, issue them a ticket for lying down illegally on the nature strip.

problem being, they are sneaky shits and will ensure no body is looking when they issue the fines. i caught one trying to give me a ticket real quick when i parked and walked over to the ticket machine. The idiot made eye contact with me as i got out of the car and walked to the machine, when i got back he was in the process of issuing me a fine and clumsily said ahhh is this your car? When i informed him we made eye contact he said i was mistaken and he just got here. if i was a angrier person i would have shoved the ticket dispenser up his backside.

To all of you halfwits that think its justifiable to have people fined for parking on the nature strip or verge, i pity you greatly. clearly of small minds and incredible wowsers. get a life.

If you think that’s bad, I rocked up, didn’t have $6.50 in change, so I told he inspector look, i’m just running up stairs to my desk, i’ll be back in 5 minutes. “Yeah, no worries” he said.

Came back to my car to find a parking fine, I was so happy about that.

These days if I need to go up stairs to find change, I park in the 1 hour spot and then move my car an hour later into a paid spot.

What a jerk. I have a little container of change all the time just incase.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Pitchka said :

I would park the car there again, hide behind a tree with a large saucepan, when the inspector approaches, knock him/her out with one hard and accurate blow to the back of the head.

Then, using their infringment notice issuing device contraption, issue them a ticket for lying down illegally on the nature strip.

problem being, they are sneaky shits and will ensure no body is looking when they issue the fines. i caught one trying to give me a ticket real quick when i parked and walked over to the ticket machine. The idiot made eye contact with me as i got out of the car and walked to the machine, when i got back he was in the process of issuing me a fine and clumsily said ahhh is this your car? When i informed him we made eye contact he said i was mistaken and he just got here. if i was a angrier person i would have shoved the ticket dispenser up his backside.

To all of you halfwits that think its justifiable to have people fined for parking on the nature strip or verge, i pity you greatly. clearly of small minds and incredible wowsers. get a life.

If you think that’s bad, I rocked up, didn’t have $6.50 in change, so I told he inspector look, i’m just running up stairs to my desk, i’ll be back in 5 minutes. “Yeah, no worries” he said.

Came back to my car to find a parking fine, I was so happy about that.

These days if I need to go up stairs to find change, I park in the 1 hour spot and then move my car an hour later into a paid spot.

Pay double …..it’s obvious the ACT economy needs your money.

http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/2010-113/current/pdf/2010-113.pdf

You think it’s unfair?

Read rule 197. It’s there in black and white. Tell your friend to suck it up. Maybe next time they’ll have to walk around the block or somewhere else. I’m not sure that most homes have up to 6 parking spots for friends and visitors

Most nature strips are in place to allow the resonable access to services such a sewers, power and gas lines. That’s the number one reason why it is illegal to park on them.

The land leaseholder is free to landscape this area (outside of an approved driveway) safe in the knowledge that if ACTEW/AGL/WATER (insert expensive name change) need access, they can dig it up and only remedy their work with basic landscaping.

Fairdinkum – the biggest issue here is the random application of the law. Either it gets policed (everywhere) as heavily as meter parking or it should not be policed at all.

Henry82 said :

If other cars used your nature strip every day as commuter parking, would you be happy with that? I’ll assume not, hence why it’s banned

no, they would end up with smashed windows and maybe some brown smelly substance on there seat, find your own nature strip.

Your friend was in the wrong. What he should have done is parked the car further back from the road, so that it’s not on the nature strip. They can’t book you if you park on private property. The nature strip is government land.

I am quite happy to park on my street. Of course, it means that the garbage truck has difficulties coming down the road, and when my across the road neighbour also parks on the street it means that nothing bigger than a corolla can fit between our cars.

But I’m happy knowing its legal, rather than causing huge problems by parking on my nature strip. Yes, I say ‘my nature strip’ because I’m the one that mows it and has to look after it.

If other cars used your nature strip every day as commuter parking, would you be happy with that? I’ll assume not, hence why it’s banned

At out house with three cars we have covered the nature strip in compact gravel (using concrete so it doesn’t end up halfway down the street like most other gravel gardens). Before it was just dead grass, It looks much better now and I’m sure the postie is has an easier time now. We never have been fined, but if they do fine someone I hope it is the people who use the reserve at the back of teh cul de sac for their own personal driveway and churn up the ground so bad it leaves piles of sand all over the path. I place of the rest of the lawn we have planted a low watering garden of native Australian grasses and ground covers, between that and the gravel we have vastly improved the look and function of the front yard. One issue may be the blocking of services that the government has to access, they came and dug a big pit on the nature strip without telling us the other day to access the mater mains and left it half filled in.

Pitchka said :

I would park the car there again, hide behind a tree with a large saucepan, when the inspector approaches, knock him/her out with one hard and accurate blow to the back of the head.

Then, using their infringment notice issuing device contraption, issue them a ticket for lying down illegally on the nature strip.

problem being, they are sneaky shits and will ensure no body is looking when they issue the fines. i caught one trying to give me a ticket real quick when i parked and walked over to the ticket machine. The idiot made eye contact with me as i got out of the car and walked to the machine, when i got back he was in the process of issuing me a fine and clumsily said ahhh is this your car? When i informed him we made eye contact he said i was mistaken and he just got here. if i was a angrier person i would have shoved the ticket dispenser up his backside.

To all of you halfwits that think its justifiable to have people fined for parking on the nature strip or verge, i pity you greatly. clearly of small minds and incredible wowsers. get a life.

I would park the car there again, hide behind a tree with a large saucepan, when the inspector approaches, knock him/her out with one hard and accurate blow to the back of the head.

Then, using their infringment notice issuing device contraption, issue them a ticket for lying down illegally on the nature strip.

basketofcat said :

Deref said :

It’s illegal, but you’ve got to be damned unlucky to be fined. My neighbour parks his truck on the nature strip all the time and it blocks my view of traffic when I’m reversing out of my driveway. I don’t think he’s ever been fined.

Like this carpark? There’s no nature strip here. http://goo.gl/maps/ut16D

There is still a “nature strip” on roads such as this. It normally runs in-line with the water meter. Also looks like this house has also breached nature strip rules (unless they have written permission of course) by replacing the grass the government/developers would have planted out front with gravel for a carpark. Yet another rule that (is thankfully) not enforced. Just like it seems the front fence rule, noticed recently a lot more house now have proper front fences, especially in old Canberra. Makes you realise why they are outlawed in Canberra.

astrojax said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

helium said :

“on his own nature strip”, you may have meant the governments (or peoples) nature strip.

Why did you friend move into a property knowing there was insufficient parking ? and not knowing the law ?

My only issue with this story is inconsistent enforcement, in targeting an inner city suburb, can the Gov not warn people and then enforce everywhere please.

Why? It’s a stupid law that needs to be gone.

err, well maybe, but that it ‘should be gone’ is clearly indicative of the fact [fact] that it isn’t, so is a law that must be obeyed, lest the consequences be wrought upon thee. o, yeah, they have…

to the op, what if seven people decided to co-habit (and their loving partners from time to time) and they all decided to own three cars and a motorbike and a caravan – should the government, or some-convenient-one else, provide for their parking requirements? cement, liquid, ingest…

Sh*t i think they’d have to knock the house down just to make room for all that self-indulgence!

What a load of bull. Canberra is such a s*** pedantic place to live.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

helium said :

“on his own nature strip”, you may have meant the governments (or peoples) nature strip.

Why did you friend move into a property knowing there was insufficient parking ? and not knowing the law ?

My only issue with this story is inconsistent enforcement, in targeting an inner city suburb, can the Gov not warn people and then enforce everywhere please.

Why? It’s a stupid law that needs to be gone.

err, well maybe, but that it ‘should be gone’ is clearly indicative of the fact [fact] that it isn’t, so is a law that must be obeyed, lest the consequences be wrought upon thee. o, yeah, they have…

to the op, what if seven people decided to co-habit (and their loving partners from time to time) and they all decided to own three cars and a motorbike and a caravan – should the government, or some-convenient-one else, provide for their parking requirements? cement, liquid, ingest…

I’m all for people being fined for parking on nature strips, but not out the front of your own house when no on street parking is provided. That’s just mean.
I live on a reasonably busy street, and while there aren’t any “no parking” signs it’s not a great idea to block a lane of the road on a corner , on a busy street. I and my guests regularly park on the nature strip on the opposite side of the road (no nature strip on our side) with no consequences as yet.

If I were your friend I’d be sending in a letter. I’d love to see all the high horse riders here park 2 blocks from their own house while muttering about “the law”.

Oh how I wish how they’d come out to Gungahlin and book a few people. There are cars strewn everywhere on nature strips, many with their arse ends hanging out onto the road, or on he road at t-intersections. The new development on Flemington and Well Station is barely occupied and already there are cars choosing to park on the nature strip (no, not vacant unbuilt land). The thing is, there’s legitimate parking a further ten metres away in this case, and in other cases, plenty of space in laneways. Government development approval methods don’t help either.

I don’t understand why they don’t come out to book. It’s easy money. Of course, they probably come out during the day and find no cars and can’t see the problem.

cranky said :

Could be a bit discriminatory.

A foreign mission in O’Malley, fronting Yamba Drive, uses all their available nature strip to park up to about 8 vehicles during the day. I suspect a very blind eye is turned.

Perhaps its because of an ongoing abuse of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that enables diplomatic staff fo ignore parking regs and other laws of the land

Deref said :

It’s illegal, but you’ve got to be damned unlucky to be fined. My neighbour parks his truck on the nature strip all the time and it blocks my view of traffic when I’m reversing out of my driveway. I don’t think he’s ever been fined.

Like this carpark? There’s no nature strip here. http://goo.gl/maps/ut16D

Reid eh? The problem with parking on the nature strip in Reid is that an increasing number of people are using their friends’ nature strips to park all day within walking distance of the city. Residents complain, rangers come out, book cars that are illegally parked and the cycle continues. Perhaps your friend could sell the car and get a bike and use public transport, both very good options when you live in Reid, given that there’s not enough room for his or her car.

How is this any different to others trying to weasel out of paying parking infringement fines? Everyone knows your not meant to park on the nature strip; sure people do it because it’s often not enforced but when it is have the balls to acknowledge that you did the wrong thing and in the future park elsewhere.

And do you really think this is an infringement on your personal liberties?! Do you think being required to wear a seatbelt, stop at red lights and pay taxes is an similar infringement? As others have said this policy has been around a long time. Given you don’t know this and are trying to shirk responsibility for a minor traffic fine I’d say you’re probably too far gone to vote responsibly anyway.

Deref said :

It’s illegal, but you’ve got to be damned unlucky to be fined. My neighbour parks his truck on the nature strip all the time and it blocks my view of traffic when I’m reversing out of my driveway. I don’t think he’s ever been fined.

probably because you are not in the inner north, and you haven’t complained – make a fuss and they will come and visit I am sure.

for OP, sorry you have to tell your friend to suck it up – it may not be fair but it is very legal, publicised on Govt info and well known.

All I can say is that the nature strip doesn’t belong to your friend it is Territory Land. I suggest, if it is possible, they park on the house side of the footpath. Now that is their property. And you won’t get a parking fine. We all know that parking on nature strips is illegal but we all do it at some time or another.

Martlark said :

The Govt. targets inner city areas as they know that any let up in enforcement will lead to almost every nature strip covered in commuter cars.

Yep. Since ANU has built over essentially all of its formerly sufficient surface parking over the past 6 years, commuting students have migrated to the streets of Turner, which are now jam packed with cars parked on the curb and anywhere else they can get away with.
From about Nicholson Cres to David street every legal curbside parking area will be occupied at peak times. It must really get on the nerves of the people who live there.

Not to even get started on the situation closer to civic and around Braddon, ect.

You could always try and get out of it in terms of fairness and discretion?

It is common practice in Canberra to park on the nature strip, does not mean it is legal, but it is common. I would go as far to say that it is so common that most people do not know that it is against the law, like parking within 2 meters of a driveway, still a law that can be broken, but just about never enforced.

Write a letter to who ever reviews it, take random photo’s of the cars all over Canberra that are parked on nature strips without tickets, ask either they give those people tickets, or rescind your ticket as you are not being treated the same as the rest of Canberra. Make sure you take photo’s of the car and where it was parked to show that it is not inconveniencing people, or a traffic hazard (it could block the view of something, who knows).

It is worth a try.

Deref said :

It’s illegal, but you’ve got to be damned unlucky to be fined. My neighbour parks his truck on the nature strip all the time and it blocks my view of traffic when I’m reversing out of my driveway. I don’t think he’s ever been fined.

Very typical. I have no problem with tickets being issued for parking on nature strips, but as someone pointed out above, it is extremely random and inconsistent. All too often irregular as well – not very often does it seem to be enforced.

Maybe the OP should get some photos of what so many others are doing and claim that they are being unfairly singled out.

Cheap said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Take off number plates and cover rego sticker.

I’m sure that’s some kind of registration offence, you’d probably get your car towed

Unlikely. A mate parked his van on my nature strip for 6 monthes. Had a ranger not on my door and give a written warning that it would be towed in 30 days. Plenty of time to put plates on, move it and tell them to come confirm its been moved.

It’s illegal, but you’ve got to be damned unlucky to be fined. My neighbour parks his truck on the nature strip all the time and it blocks my view of traffic when I’m reversing out of my driveway. I don’t think he’s ever been fined.

A heavy handed authoritarian approach seems to increasingly be the order of the day over the past few years. Since the parked car in question wasn’t blocking the footpath it is highly probable that there really wasn’t any harm being done. However, if it is deemed appropriate to enforce the rule in this situation then surely a discretionary warning would have the same effect as a fine. The offence here probably isn’t as blatant as illegally parking in a bus stop or overstaying a time limit.

It’s very frustrating to see this ever increasing laziness to road rule enforcement. A blind eye is turned at breaches of so many of our road rules, yet this bloke is fined for harmlessly parking ot the front of his house.

Lets see some consistency and common sense. PLEASE……..and don’t treat your constituents with contempt.

Kids today…with their three cars and three girlfriends cars. You pretty much helped your friend here as he will view this thread and learn to grow up. Park legally…. it won’t be his last fine.

Sammy said :

I would suggest that they write a letter to the address on the ticket pleading ignorance, and they’ll likely be let off the fine.

I’d suggest that as well. That said, parking on the nature strip is illegal (for some fairly compelling reasons), and if it is something you do, don’t be surprised if you get fined.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Take off number plates and cover rego sticker.

I’m sure that’s some kind of registration offence, you’d probably get your car towed

The Govt. targets inner city areas as they know that any let up in enforcement will lead to almost every nature strip covered in commuter cars.

“and while this site is full of threads from people who are in the wrong “

You’ve just added another one

“Think of the children”

This reads like a mum sticking up for her son, I’d suggest you let your son do things for himself, including taking responsibility for his illegal parking

Could be a bit discriminatory.

A foreign mission in O’Malley, fronting Yamba Drive, uses all their available nature strip to park up to about 8 vehicles during the day. I suspect a very blind eye is turned.

crime of parking on his own nature strip

The fact that you’ve mentioned “nature strip” indicates that the area you describe is in fact public land. The space between the footpath and the road, or what most people describe as the “nature strip”, is actually public land. Therefore, your friend has been fined for parking on public land. I would suggest that they write a letter to the address on the ticket pleading ignorance, and they’ll likely be let off the fine.

Apparently the reasons why discretionary fines are issued for parking on nature strips by the parking nazis is that drivers entering or exiting a driveway cannot see approaching pedestrians, especially children and that it may damage the water and gas supply lines, storm water drainage pipes and sewerage pipes under the nature strip.If that is their justification then all hedges and anything else obstructing one’s view when reversing from a driveway should be immediately removed forthwith.As for damaging pipes well that’s a crock of sh*t especially given pipes are meant to be a minimum of 2 feet underground and the soil is already compacted.

helium said :

“on his own nature strip”, you may have meant the governments (or peoples) nature strip.

Why did you friend move into a property knowing there was insufficient parking ? and not knowing the law ?

My only issue with this story is inconsistent enforcement, in targeting an inner city suburb, can the Gov not warn people and then enforce everywhere please.

Why? It’s a stupid law that needs to be gone.

“on his own nature strip”, you may have meant the governments (or peoples) nature strip.

Why did you friend move into a property knowing there was insufficient parking ? and not knowing the law ?

My only issue with this story is inconsistent enforcement, in targeting an inner city suburb, can the Gov not warn people and then enforce everywhere please.

Take off number plates and cover rego sticker.

“With the election looming, these infringements on our personal liberties will cause me to carefully consider who I will be voting for on the day (especially if the issue of plastic bags also comes up)!”

Use whatever method you like for choosing how you will vote. However parking on the nature strip has been an offence in Canberra before self government, when we had a Liberal ACT government and when we had a Labor ACT government. I think it extremely unlikely that this will change any time soon.

I personally urge your friend and any others of similar mind to keep parking on the nature strip. The public-spirited contribution of voluntary taxation is to be admired!

It has always been illegal to park on a nature strip but it is such a common practice in the ACT that people usually dont get booked for it. I wonder if someone has complained or if the car was parked in a funny way that an inspector driving past didnt like it.

I was booked on Bowen Drive a couple of Skyfires ago, we wrote in & pled the case & were let off. Dont get all in theri face in the letter though as that wont help your cause.

Your friend can dispute anything that they want.

They can also park legally.

I recommend the latter.