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Confused Queensland resident mulls action on ‘very harsh’ $96 infringement fine
All of us dread getting caught violating road rules and regulations, which is why every driver worth his or her salt should take time to get familiarised with them to avoid inconvenience.
Things can get tricky though when you get fined for a violation — but have no idea what you did wrong
An anonymous female resident of Logan, Queensland, found herself in one such situation and is now considering contesting the $96 penalty she incurred over ‘improper parking’.
The woman says she almost had a ‘heart attack’ when her husband showed her the fine.
According to the local council, the infringement notice was for ‘stopping on or across a driveway unless dropping off or picking up passengers’.
A visual of the Logan woman’s park. Credit: 7news.com.au
Despite the explanation offered, she still found the reason unclear. And honestly, same here!
‘I didn’t understand it. We couldn’t figure out why.’ the woman said in confusion.
‘I see people parked like this all the time,’ she added.
The woman went to Facebook and posted in a local group to explain her situation, and it was there other residents pointed out that the car was positioned just a bit over her curb and into the public domain for pedestrians.
According to the parking rules and fines section of the Queensland Government’s website, drivers should not ‘park or stop on a road in a way that blocks access to a path or driveway unless…. you are dropping off or picking up passengers within 2 minutes of stopping’.
Despite the explanations offered by other locals, the woman is set on contesting the fine that she deems is ‘very unfair’, pointing out how other locals did not know of the rule as well.
She said she also feels like she should have gotten a warning first rather than fined right away.
The Logan City Council has yet to address the matter directly.
An unnamed council spokesperson, however, told 7News.com.au that they receive many complaints over improper parking, including circumstances similar to this anonymous woman that endanger pedestrians by forcing them to use the road to pass by.
They said: ‘Queensland road rules state that a driver must not stop on or across a driveway or other way of access for vehicles travelling to or from adjacent land unless there are certain circumstances which apply.’
Do you think the council was fair in issuing this fine?
Or should they have practised leniency and let the woman off with a warning?
Please let us know your comments and opinions below!