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.