Are you tired of battling for parking spots and dealing with the dreaded parking ticket? Most of us have been there, but imagine taking it to the next level.

In Victoria, drivers have been hit hard by the recent enforcement of time limits in local car parks, causing a downturn in business for one local cafe.

That’s why Rebecca Barillaro, the owner of Afterglow cafe, decided to fight back against the 'vulture' parking inspectors and their detrimental effects on her customers by offering a sweet deal.

Bring in your parking fine from the Welsford Street car park and enjoy a complimentary coffee at Afterglow Cafe. Say goodbye to the stress and frustration of parking woes, and hello to a refreshing pick-me-up!

Rebecca has decided to offer anyone who's been handed a parking fine in the car park a free coffee at Afterglow Cafe. Credit: Angela Roma.

During the holiday season, Greater Shepparton City Council made a commendable move to 'support local businesses' by offering free parking for all council-owned spots.

While the council made it clear that time limits still applied, some customers of Afterglow Cafe were left confused and surprised when they received hefty fines. Barillaro reported that many of her customers were upset when they got fines out of the blue - with some of them having to pay as much as $93.

The small business owner also clarified that the process was made even more difficult by the sudden implementation of roadworks in the area of Welsford Street. This has meant that some customers got confused over parking times, and the excessive traffic caused has led to an 'overall dramatic drop in her clientele'.

Fed up with parking inspectors and the hefty fines that the council were handing out, she decided to give away free coffee to those who had their days ruined.

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She told a news source that she just couldn't sit back and watch her customers be shocked and upset after being hit with unfair fines.

'I fully understand that we need parking inspectors and there is a need for enforcement, but when there were three car parks out of about 80 that had cars in them, and the three cars parked had fines, I find it hard to believe that it's about that and not just about revenue raising,' she said.

Understanding that her coffee couldn't exactly fix the problem, Barillaro still wanted to sweeten the experience for customers who have gotten fined through no fault of their own.

'At a time when businesses are struggling, you would think that the best thing to do would be for the council to try and look after people shopping locally,' Barillaro said, who added that plenty of people have been coming in for her free coffee offer each day since she posted about it on social media.

Free parking spots for locals in December and January still have time limits, as stated on the council's website and Facebook post. Credit: Greater Shepparton City Council.

The Greater Shepparton City Council has not yet responded to requests for comment. Their website, however, does state that time limits still apply for the parking spaces and that infringement notices will be issued if you overstay the time displayed on the signs of the area.

'Time limits are necessary because they allow us to make sure everybody has a fair chance to find the right park for their purpose,' they said.

Key Takeaways

• A café in Northern Victoria is offering free coffee to drivers stung by parking fines.
• The café owner believes that the enforcement of parking fines and the confusion over the time limits are contributing to a dramatic drop in customers and revenue.
• The council is urging drivers to take note of the street parking signs in order to avoid incurring parking fines.

While a parking fine may leave you feeling down in the dumps, a warm cup of coffee from Rebecca's café serves as a reminder that, sometimes, all it takes to turn a bad day around is a small act of kindness. And who knows, that sip of coffee might even clear your mind and give you the clarity you need to tackle the fine head-on.

So next time you find yourself on the receiving end of a parking fine, head on over to Rebecca's café, or any other café that you frequent, for a cup of comfort and a dose of positivity.

We'd love to hear from you, members! Have you ever had a parking fine? How did you feel about it? And do you think a cup of coffee would help in that situation? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments section below!

 

[Ricci]

I met probably the nicest Parking Inspector last time I was in Melbourne. I could see him walking towards my car as I pulled up. He read my number plate and then came to my window and said I can tell you're not from round here. If you stay where you're parked I will have to give you a ticket as your car is encroaching on the driveway. I apologised and must have looked a bit lost as he took pity on me, asked where I was going and told me of a little known spot that was bound to have some spaces, much nearer to my destination. He then stopped the traffic so I could pull out and was last seen waving in my rear view mirror! I found a spot, just where he said I would and my day wasn't ruined! Maybe I should have bought hima cup of coffee!