The allure of Australia's beaches is undeniable. Their golden sands and rolling waves beckon locals and tourists alike to bask in their natural beauty.

But for one woman, a brief pause to admire the surf turned into an unexpected and costly lesson in parking regulations.

Amy Sloane was drawn to the picturesque scene at The Esplanade at New South Wales' Caves Beach.

On 6 July, she stopped her car to check the surf conditions, a seemingly harmless act many beachgoers might do without a second thought.

However, this quick stop resulted in a $136 fine in her mailbox weeks later, leaving her both surprised and frustrated.

Amy Sloane was fined $136 for wrong-way parking at Caves Beach, NSW. Credits: Facebook

'How do I feel? Pissed off,' she expressed.

‘Rangers can't fine people who don't pick up after their dogs on our beaches but can secretly fine you without you knowing for just checking out the surf for five minutes.’

Amy felt that the fine was issued stealthily, without any immediate indication from the parking inspector that she had committed an offence.

She didn't mince words when she labelled the council workers as 'cowards,' highlighting that the area where she stopped is a familiar spot for locals and tourists to enjoy the view.

However, the council had a different perspective. Lake Macquarie City Council defended the fine.

‘The fine at hand was issued for not parallel parking in the direction of travel, which is a safety offence under Australian Road Rules.’ the council spokesperson explained.

‘The driver's vehicle crossed double white lines and was parked near a bend, facing oncoming traffic, which further heightened safety concerns,’

‘Lake Macquarie City Council enforces parking regulations to ensure the safety of all road users.

The reaction on social media to Amy's predicament was mixed.

While some sympathised with her frustration, others argued that the fine was justified.'

‘If you think the fine is wrong, fight it. If you were parked incorrectly, wear the fine,' one commenter advised.

Ultimately, Amy decided to pay the fine, albeit reluctantly.

In related news, parking across your driveway is illegal in New South Wales and can result in substantial fines.

A Sydney resident received a fine for parking across her driveway, unaware that it was against the law. Read more about the incident here.

Key Takeaways

• Amy Sloane was fined $136 for parking her car in the opposite direction of travel at Caves Beach, NSW.
• The Lake Macquarie City Council defended the fine, stating it was a known 'safety offence under Australian Road Rules' and emphasised enforcing parking regulations for road safety.
• Sloane expressed frustration on social media, where opinions were mixed, with some agreeing with the fine and others sympathising with her.
• After considering her options, Sloane decided to pay the fine despite her annoyance with the situation.

Have you ever encountered or been in a similar situation before? Please share your experiences and tips on how to avoid parking fines in the comments below.

 

[tomtom]

You can refuse the fine. You never signed the contract with council or any such department including the police department so you never agreed to those conditions. It is not their jurisdiction to do so. It is a victimless crime. What they are doing is completely illegal according to the Constitution of 1900. Our politicians and councils etc are illegal entities and make up a the corporation that our government has become. We, the people, need to stand up to this tyranny. There have been grous set up to educate and assist: My Place Australia has groups all over Australia and check out My Self Reliance Groups also. They can over much information on Common Law/Lore.

Sorry lindaaspinall - what a load of bullshit, she broke the law - end of story.

 

[Rob44]

These fines are a result of tax cuts. They have to make up for the loss so we'll all be getting fines for the most trivial things now.
They give with one hand and take with the other. This crap is happening more and more now and will only get worse, especially while Albosleezy is in power.

Wait till the LNP get back in under the iron hand of PC Dutton.

 

[Fanger]

Give me a break. Why are you even reporting this as a'harmless driving mistake". Amy committed a driving offence and was fined accordingly. She has no right to complain and whinge in this forum.

 

[Abby2]

These fines are a result of tax cuts. They have to make up for the loss so we'll all be getting fines for the most trivial things now.
They give with one hand and take with the other. This crap is happening more and more now and will only get worse, especially while Albosleezy is in power.

Spot on David

 

[Mark1]

You can refuse the fine. You never signed the contract with council or any such department including the police department so you never agreed to those conditions. It is not their jurisdiction to do so. It is a victimless crime. What they are doing is completely illegal according to the Constitution of 1900. Our politicians and councils etc are illegal entities and make up a the corporation that our government has become. We, the people, need to stand up to this tyranny. There have been grous set up to educate and assist: My Place Australia has groups all over Australia and check out My Self Reliance Groups also. They can over much information on Common Law/Lore.

Ummm, l think you need to grow up.

 

[Veggiepatch]

More questions, how about answering one of mine?

You can't park on a freeway, Road Rules 177 and 178 across the country except WA 149 and 150.

If a council ranger saw you stopped on the freeway they would enquire whether you needed to, they could issue a fine for "No Stopping On Freeway"

Out of a council's jurisdiction. Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA) states that "highways and main roads" are the State Government's responsibility for funding and management.

Try looking at the document "Road Responsibility Policy" issued by Main Roads Western Australia. It would be reasonable to equate similar policies to the other States.

 

[Rob44]

Interesting. I wonder when that came into being. It would seem to have been after my time in the UK which was a forgetful time ago, and I certainly don't recall it. It makes sense in regard to your comment about seeing oncoming traffic.

A thought. If we all parked in the best position to SEE oncoming traffic we would all park on the wrong side of the road facing the oncoming traffic. However, on starting out from the parking spot........Then again we would see oncoming motorcyclists more easily and there would be less chance of pulling out and knocking them off their bikes, or opening the driver's door without looking properly and doing the same to anyone on two wheels.

 

[Choff5]

You are permitted to cross double unbroken lines when entering a driveway, side street or parking spot.

But not do a u turn over double lines

 

[Choff5]

A thought. If we all parked in the best position to SEE oncoming traffic we would all park on the wrong side of the road facing the oncoming traffic. However, on starting out from the parking spot........Then again we would see oncoming motorcyclists more easily and there would be less chance of pulling out and knocking them off their bikes, or opening the driver's door without looking properly and doing the same to anyone on two wheels.

What is a Mirror for!

 

[Rob44]

What is a Mirror for!

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle in traffic? Mirrors on cars are for ignoring motorcyclists when overtaking them and immediately turning left on them and also for driving in the left-hand lane looking for that opportunity to quickly move into the right hand lane when that space is occupied or will be occupied by a motorcyclist. Or simply for stopping suddenly and the chucking a 90 degree right-hand turn without thinking about signalling whilst the motorcyclist swerves right to pass you so as to avoid running into the rear of your car. Or for ignoring any motorcyclist whilst pulling out suddenly from your legal parking space without signalling in a timely manner.

No; of course car drivers don't do that sort of thing. It's why they always say, "I didn't see you" after they have knocked one off one's motor bike. Sidecars are useful for fending off errant car drivers. They can cause a lot of expensive damage whist enabling one to probably not hit the tar-seal by being knocked off.

 

[Veggiepatch]

I'm with you all the way. Having ridden high powered sports bikes from the late 1970s until the early 2010s, I have said hello to Mr Bitumen several times by drivers who have their eyes sewn to their arse cheeks.

The worst experience was in Rickard Road, Bankstown, when I wasn't even hit! I was stopped at a red light on my Kawasaki GPZ750 R1 when I heard a screech from behind. An Oriental retard had locked up his white Toyota Celica and passed me through the lights sideways, missing me by inches.

I chased him and finally caught up to him on the Hume Highway at Bass Hill at another red light. I leant into his open driver's side window, he threw himself into the passenger seat while I calmly took the keys out of the ignition. Then I threw them down a stormwater drain.

The look of sheer terror on his face was delightful!

 

[Rob44]

I'm with you all the way. Having ridden high powered sports bikes from the late 1970s until the early 2010s, I have said hello to Mr Bitumen several times by drivers who have their eyes sewn to their arse cheeks.

The worst experience was in Rickard Road, Bankstown, when I wasn't even hit! I was stopped at a red light on my Kawasaki GPZ750 R1 when I heard a screech from behind. An Oriental retard had locked up his white Toyota Celica and passed me through the lights sideways, missing me by inches.

I chased him and finally caught up to him on the Hume Highway at Bass Hill at another red light. I leant into his open driver's side window, he threw himself into the passenger seat while I calmly took the keys out of the ignition. Then I threw them down a stormwater drain.

The look of sheer terror on his face was delightful!

Wonderful! At least that Oriental retard missed you; be grateful for small mercies and Give Praise to the Lord for your Salvation.

I recall one car driver, if you call him that, who overtook me in the right hand lane of a dual carriage-way and when alongside me then proceeded to leave via my left lane into a slip road on the left whilst the dual carriage-way began a 70 degree swing to the right under an overpass with attendant bridge buttress. Fortunately my "high-powered" 22BHP British vintage bike had adequate instant acceleration to get round the front of his car, even with my wife on the pillion, whilst the car-driver's wife screeched from a face full of horror. That was during a vintage bike club run with old bangers scattered around and one might have thunk that a car-driver might not be asleep at the wheel even if he didn't look over his left shoulder at the very noisy single-banger 500 on his left. Happily, it was one of those old Pommie bikes that had an excellent reputation for handling, and was of the sort that had done remarkable things in the good old days, despite the oil-leaks. It wasn't a Norton.

We could ramble on swapping escape stories for years. but that would bore the readership, no doubt.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Wonderful! At least that Oriental retard missed you; be grateful for small mercies and Give Praise to the Lord for your Salvation.

I recall one car driver, if you call him that, who overtook me in the right hand lane of a dual carriage-way and then proceed to leave via my left lane into a slip road n the left whilst the dual carriage-way began a 70 degree swing to the right under an overpass with attendant bridge buttress. Fortunately my "high-powered" 22BHP British vintage bike had adequate instant acceleration to get round the front of his car, even with my wife on the pillion, whilst the car-driver's wife screeched from a face full of horror. That was during a vintage bike club run with old bangers scattered around and one might have thunk that a car-driver might not be asleep at the wheel even if he didn't look over his left shoulder at a very noisy single-banger 500 on his left. Happily, it was one of those old Pommie bikes that had an excellent reputation for handling, and was of the sort that had done remarkable things in the good old days, despite the oil-leaks. It wasn't a Norton.

We could ramble on swapping escape stories for years. but that would bore the readership, no doubt.

This is correct @Rob44! We might even put each other to sleep with our incessant "war stories", as well as the rest of the SDC readership!

 

[BeautifulMousey]

Doesn't EVERYBODY who has a Licence know it is against the Law to park on the opposite side of the road, facing the Wrong way. Pretty sure it is in the Rule book for Many Years

Even I know that and I don't drive. Vehicles that is. Just drive people crazy but we don't get far

 

[Rosi Gordon]

You can refuse the fine. You never signed the contract with council or any such department including the police department so you never agreed to those conditions. It is not their jurisdiction to do so. It is a victimless crime. What they are doing is completely illegal according to the Constitution of 1900. Our politicians and councils etc are illegal entities and make up a the corporation that our government has become. We, the people, need to stand up to this tyranny. There have been grous set up to educate and assist: My Place Australia has groups all over Australia and check out My Self Reliance Groups also. They can over much information on Common Law/Lore.

When you received your very first licence you had to sign for it. It is a legal document that receiving you permit to drive and you will obey rules so yes it is a contract

 

[BeautifulMousey]

When you received your very first licence you had to sign for it. It is a legal document that receiving you permit to drive and you will obey rules so yes it is a contract

Never got a licence to drive people crazy or up the wall. Just comes naturally

 

[GoodEnough]

You can refuse the fine. You never signed the contract with council or any such department including the police department so you never agreed to those conditions. It is not their jurisdiction to do so. It is a victimless crime. What they are doing is completely illegal according to the Constitution of 1900. Our politicians and councils etc are illegal entities and make up a the corporation that our government has become. We, the people, need to stand up to this tyranny. There have been grous set up to educate and assist: My Place Australia has groups all over Australia and check out My Self Reliance Groups also. They can over much information on Common Law/Lore.

Utter nonsense.

 

[Viellarde]

You are permitted to cross double unbroken lines when entering a driveway, side street or parking spot.

But not to stop and check out the surf.

 

[GoodEnough]

She broke the law, one I learnt about 60 years ago. There is no story here, except for ignorance, and we have so much of that around these days, it's NOT a story.

 

[Veggiepatch]

But not to stop and check out the surf.

So the purpose of a motorist parking determines whether they got fined or not?

If the said "offender" parks to dispose rubbish in a council bin it's OK?

Fair dinkum!