Parking fines on a Saturday morning.

if you park at 5.00, and need to buy another voucher at 9.00, you may have moved away from the area by 9.oo. it may be 0 degrees or raining, you may be young, female and nervous, you may have high heels on, you probably have no jacket, as there is nowhere to leave it in the clubs, or you may just be too tanked to manage to organise the 6.00 of loose change you need. maybe you’ve spent all your money on drinks.

or maybe you intended to have 2 drinks and drive home, but end up having 10 and forget all about the car.

all the people saying ‘why not walk/get a lift with friends/simply taxi in to town’ have probably not been big friday night drinkers. but lots of people are.

the best tip on here is to park somewhere in braddon wot to ith no saturday fines.
but i still think fining people who choose not to drive home is

dvaey said :

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

waah I can’t plan ahead and keep making the same mistakes somebody should give me a break

If by ‘plan ahead’ and ‘give me a break’, you mean they should program the machines to be able to print legal parking vouchers a day ahead of time, or make some other change to allow a driver to pay to park legally, then yes I agree, this would be good.

laughtong said :

Sorry to spoil the debate, but if you go to the TAMS website there is information on leaving a car overnight in the carparks.

For peace of mind, drivers now have the option of purchasing a parking ticket for their vehicle for the following morning. Overnight credit for ticket parking is available at Government carparks after normal hours of operation.

This is the issue, why does one have to wait until ‘after normal hours of operation’? Why cant you simply purchase a 24hr voucher or 36hr voucher at any time of day, when you park your vehicle? Especially as chances are you wont use the full 36hr time, so the government will make at least some money for nothing (should cover the costs of having to reprogram a couple of machines).

You do realise that on a Friday night, the normal hours of operation is 9:00pm? Still early enough for you to walk over throw a few bucks in a continue to enjoy your night? Or are you that lazy and stupid?

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

waah I can’t plan ahead and keep making the same mistakes somebody should give me a break

If by ‘plan ahead’ and ‘give me a break’, you mean they should program the machines to be able to print legal parking vouchers a day ahead of time, or make some other change to allow a driver to pay to park legally, then yes I agree, this would be good.

laughtong said :

Sorry to spoil the debate, but if you go to the TAMS website there is information on leaving a car overnight in the carparks.

For peace of mind, drivers now have the option of purchasing a parking ticket for their vehicle for the following morning. Overnight credit for ticket parking is available at Government carparks after normal hours of operation.

This is the issue, why does one have to wait until ‘after normal hours of operation’? Why cant you simply purchase a 24hr voucher or 36hr voucher at any time of day, when you park your vehicle? Especially as chances are you wont use the full 36hr time, so the government will make at least some money for nothing (should cover the costs of having to reprogram a couple of machines).

sepi said :

i totally agree with this. there is nothing more depressing than dragging your hangover into town to pick up the car only to find a parking ticket. people need more incentives to taxi home, not less.

Seconded. Drink driving is apparently a big issue on the roads in our community. Reccuring? RBT’s and police pleas for people to not drink and drive are apparently being ignored according to the police themselves and the media. So I think it is fair to say, ‘people need more incentives to taxi home, not less’ otherwise the behaviour may continue.

rb said :

Parking tickets suck!

But, if you know you are likely to get a parking fine, why don’t you just taxi it into the city. Surely the taxi fare into the city is cheaper than the parking fine.

$50 taxi fare into the city. Bloody ridiculous.

Why do we have parking fees on Sat mornings? Presumably it dates back to the old days when shops were only open 9-12 Sat mornings and then shut up for the rest of the weekend and so people wanted to park and there was a demand.

Is there any reason why, nowdays, 2pm Sat is less worthy of paying for a ticket than 11am? (in fact, my local woolies is by far busier at about 5pm on Sat than any other time of the weekend).

In other words, the whole concept of requiring tickets on Sat morning is irrelevant. There is no overwhelming demand on Sat morning, unlike during the week. They remain only for revenue raising.

$80 bucks for parking ticket? WTF? This is Canberra not Rodeo Drive lol 40 would be more like it?

If they cared about the “road toll” they should stop punishing people for being responsible on the weekend. They don’t care at all it’s about $$$$$

waah I can’t plan ahead and keep making the same mistakes somebody should give me a break or i might kill somebody thats not a threat im just that incompetent

jake555 said :

Stupid suggestion. It’s hard enough to get served at a police station without 15 people in front of you buying an “I’m a responsible drinker” parking ticket. Remainder of the post had merit tho.

Arrested within 45 mins or your first court appearance is free, perhaps?

Sorry to spoil the debate, but if you go to the TAMS website there is information on leaving a car overnight in the carparks.

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/move/parking/payparkingibelco

Scroll down to:

Overnight Parking

Did you know? If you are planning a night out on the town and you wish to leave your vehicle in an ACT Government pay parking carpark overnight, there is an answer to the possible dilemma of receiving a Parking Infringement the next morning.

For peace of mind, drivers now have the option of purchasing a parking ticket for their vehicle for the following morning. Overnight credit for ticket parking is available at Government carparks after normal hours of operation. For more details, please refer to the download below:

* Overnight Credit for Ticket Parking (PDF PDF 93Kb )

enrique said :

Are you seriously suggesting that other people in the community that have no option but to do their shopping on Saturdays (i.e. working families, shiftworkers, etc) should have to compete for parking spots with people that got too drunk the night before and are too lazy to get up before midday to go and get their car?

No, seriously, is that what you are suggesting?

Oh no, not the working famblees! Anyone but them!!

caf said :

It seems like it would be a good idea to get the meters in some civic carkparks modified with a “buy Saturday ticket” button. Particularly the ones that go until 9pm Friday.

Be nicer if they took credit cards or some other cashless method so that I didn’t have to plan ahead so I have enough change.

luther_bendross said :

The best ideas I reckon are:
1. Be able to purchase parking for Saturday morning on a Friday night from the meter
2. Be able to purchase some sort of parking card from pubs etc (jeez, even a Police Station) to stick on your dash. Even if it costs you $20, it’s cheaper than a parking ticket and you’re not DD’ing home.

“jeez, even a Police Station”

Stupid suggestion. It’s hard enough to get served at a police station without 15 people in front of you buying an “I’m a responsible drinker” parking ticket. Remainder of the post had merit tho.

There is one car in the Magistrates Court car park, no number plates, definitely looks to be dumped, but the Parking Inspectors still see fit to give it a ticket a day, maybe they have a quota to fill? Who knows.

At the OP, yeah it is harsh, but honestly if you are planning on having a night out, or even if you do know that you are going to be having a few beers after work, why did you drive your car in in the first place?

A bit of common sense can stop you from getting a ticket, a lift in before you start, a bus ride – what ever – the slight inconvenience is going to be less then $80 or even still going in at all to get your car the next day?

It’s easy to cry fowl just because you have been stung for breaking the law, but there are so many easy ways around not breaking the law. I know this is not Sydney or Melbourne, but the same rules apply there.

(If you don’t mind a walk, why don’t you just park your car on Torrens Street in Braddon??)

Diggety said :

Do what I do:

1. Take one of your old parking tickets in the envelope (if you don’t have one, one from a nearby car will do).
2. Leave said envelope on your windscreen.
3. Leave your car parked as long as you like.

Would not recommend this – have seen many cars with a couple of tickets on them – old tricks get picked up pretty quickly.

Hugh Lews said :

Are you seriously suggesting this is why a parking fine is issued? Because you’ve inconvenienced other people on a Saturday morning?

Yep – that’s one reason parking fines are issued. In a congested area where parking spots are competitive, one way to give everyone a fair go is to issue parking fines. This has the effect of deterring people from inconveniencing others by over-consuming a scarce resource.

Of course, the main reason is so the government can generate revenue but everyone knows that already. No need to point out the obvious.

Solidarity said :

@#19

It’s first come first served, are “working families” and shift workers more entitled to a car spot than any other citizen?

No.

I agree, you are right. It is first come first served – you’ve supported my question perfectly.

So, under this proposal by the OP he should be able to register his ‘not driving home drunk’ car and be immune to parking infringements.

Thus, he is suggesting that if someone else comes along that wants to park in the same spot his car is in on the Saturday morning has to go and find another spot.

So, lets say this gets wildly popular and it then becomes very hard to find a car park on Saturday morning because many are taken by ‘not driving drunk’ cars. Saturday morning shoppers have to compete with people that got too drunk the night before and are too lazy to go and get their car.

I’m not having a go, I’m honestly asking for clarification of the idea.

just say no to drugs

and abstinance will cure aids in africa

…and put hours of planning into transport to friday night drinks…

and now back to reality.

It seems like it would be a good idea to get the meters in some civic carkparks modified with a “buy Saturday ticket” button. Particularly the ones that go until 9pm Friday.

@#19

It’s first come first served, are “working families” and shift workers more entitled to a car spot than any other citizen?

No.

@ #19

Are you seriously suggesting this is why a parking fine is issued? Because you’ve inconvenienced other people on a Saturday morning?

Seriously? is that what you are suggesting?

It’s Canberra NO carpark is full on a Saturday morning.

Diggety said :

Do what I do:

1. Take one of your old parking tickets in the envelope (if you don’t have one, one from a nearby car will do).
2. Leave said envelope on your windscreen.
3. Leave your car parked as long as you like.

Pure Rolled Gold.

Are you seriously suggesting that other people in the community that have no option but to do their shopping on Saturdays (i.e. working families, shiftworkers, etc) should have to compete for parking spots with people that got too drunk the night before and are too lazy to get up before midday to go and get their car?

No, seriously, is that what you are suggesting?

Do what I do:

1. Take one of your old parking tickets in the envelope (if you don’t have one, one from a nearby car will do).
2. Leave said envelope on your windscreen.
3. Leave your car parked as long as you like.

BenMac said :

Park at the old Beaurepaires on Lonsdale st. It free all the time. I used to park there when I worked in the city, as long as I started before 7am, but it’s usually clear around 3pm.

Beaurepaires still use it as there isn’t enough parking at the new site. You’ll also notice a gate under construction.

As for parking, park in the Canberra centre car park, it will be cheaper than the fine (although not cheap)

You need to try to get to the car by 8.30am to avoid the ticket – hard with a hangover. If friday night drinks are a regular occurence and you can “just about” afford the parking fine, why not use a taxi – would be cheaper than $80 I bet.

I got a ticket the other day because unbeknownst to me, mine had blown over on the dash board and could not be verified. I’m sure it’s a commone trick. I’m going to have a bash at seeing if they will relent.

The signs in the carparks all say pay parking applies on Friday nights and on Saturday mornings, if you don’t pay you get a ticket! As others have mentioned, you can purchase tickets for the subsequent day from the machine.

Either that or park in one of the carparks that don’t have the Saturday rates, you may have to walk a whole 200m more though..

I wouldn’t worry about a few parking tickets.

Last time I left my car in Civic and went on the drink it took me two days to find it.

Those memory blackouts can be a bitch.

I came here now with the intention of sprouting off “deal with it, you drank, you parked where you knew you might get in trouble” etc. However, there’s some fairly positive and constructive ideas here. I have been in this position twice before, and it sucks ass. The best ideas I reckon are:
1. Be able to purchase parking for Saturday morning on a Friday night from the meter
2. Be able to purchase some sort of parking card from pubs etc (jeez, even a Police Station) to stick on your dash. Even if it costs you $20, it’s cheaper than a parking ticket and you’re not DD’ing home.

if you feed money into the machine at the end of the day the money ticks over to the next morning – a simple & effective way of avoiding saturday morning parking tickets. i’ve done it heaps of times.
but props to you for being smart enough not to drive home drunk.

Maybe they can change the ticket machines so you have the ability to purchase tickets one day in advance.

However, unlike your responsible self, most people who drive into the city and end up having a few, choose to get in their car and drive it home rather than leaving it in the city. Further most people would rather not leaving their car in the city for fear it may get stolen or damaged.

The best idea would be to improve public transport or lower taxi costs so people having the odd drink can afford to catch a taxi and leave their car at home.

Park a bicycle
Park a motorcycle
Catch a bus
Catch a cab
Catch a lift with a friend
Meet somewhere local and walk
Park further away and walk
Sleep in the car
Get pissed at home

But you wanna use and leave the car because it’s the only conceivable way of doing things. Suck it up and pay for it.

urchin said :

seriously, “I was too drunk to drive so let me park for free”–doesn’t that sound a bit childish and immature–asking for special treatment because you drank?

“I was depressed so I made some letterbombs. Now I want compensation for the depression…” http://the-riotact.com/?p=23931

Seems to work for some.

maybe if you know you are going to go out drinking you take the bus into work that day? carpool? or do as thatsnotme says and buy saturday’s ticket before you go home (assuming such a thing is possible). seriously, “I was too drunk to drive so let me park for free”–doesn’t that sound a bit childish and immature–asking for special treatment because you drank? you’re an adult, dealing with these things should not present too much of a challenge to a responsible adult.

I would certainly try to dispute the ticket, claiming that your chosen option was in the interest of public safety (though if you are successful, you are not likely to be successful more than once).

There certainly is scope here for the ACT Government to bring in some form of exemption from parking costs on a Saturday if you were to take a taxi – encouraging responsible drinking (it would actually be a damned cheap strategy). Perhaps a card that a bar/club (or even taxi) could pass out that you could put on your dashboard in place of a parking ticket letting the parking inspectors know the driver has been responsible by not drink-driving. Perhaps even a free bus ticket to collect the car the morning-after?

I would be looking for a better place to leave your car so it will not be affected by Saturday parking though.

Parking tickets suck!

But, if you know you are likely to get a parking fine, why don’t you just taxi it into the city. Surely the taxi fare into the city is cheaper than the parking fine.

i totally agree with this. there is nothing more depressing than dragging your hangover into town to pick up the car only to find a parking ticket. people need more incentives to taxi home, not less.

I saw a parking inspector last Saturday morning dishing out fines in the Magistrates car park. I didn’t really think about it at the time but I guess there would be a stack of cars from the night before and people thinking it’ll be right, it must be a harsh way to start the weekend, particularly if you’re hung over.

I like the idea of registering your vehicle as driving home safe but I guess for the effort that would take you could of course just as easily purchase a parking ticket that covers you for Saturday morning and therefore all Saturday

What would be good is if you could just purchase a ticket straight up for Saturday morning when you park on Friday night and not have to interrupt your night and make an extra trip to the meter. It’s not so much the effort it’s more the remembering to do it, particularly if your judgement is being affected by beverages.

Another option is I think there are people you can pay to drive you and your car home, there are in other cities, not sure about Canberra. For the cost of that you’ll save yourself paying for parking, they’ll drive you home so you save the cost of a taxi and the cost of getting back in in the morning.

Park at the old Beaurepaires on Lonsdale st. It free all the time. I used to park there when I worked in the city, as long as I started before 7am, but it’s usually clear around 3pm.

If you came here from Sydney you might scoff that the fine period on Saturday only goes until midday (I got a fine once at 10pm on a Saturday night in Sydney’s CBD)

And $80 is still cheaper than a drink driving charge (or cost of an accident)

On a practical note – if you drink on a Friday try parking in a “8am-6pm Mon-Fri” Loading Zone – these exist on the Wig&Pen side of the city….

If you go back to your car after Friday’s paid time has finished, and pay for more parking, you’ll get a ticket that’s valid for Saturday morning, and can give yourself as long as you’d like to come and get your car the next day, ticket free. Problem solved.