After parking her vehicle on a residential street in Sydney, a woman was taken aback to discover that she had been issued a $275 fine on the grounds that her vehicle had blocked a driveway.

Last week, when Elly Belfort arrived at her home in Summer Hill, which is located in the inner west of the city, she was surprised to see that her suburban street was jam-packed with vehicles.

She was able to park her Mini Cooper in a very tight place behind another vehicle because she was under the impression that there was sufficient room between the back of her vehicle and the driveway behind her.

The next morning, a hefty fine was waiting for her on her windshield.

"I assumed the neighbours probably called the council because I find it really hard to believe that a ranger would fine a car parked like that," said the resident. "I've parked my car like that many other times in many other places and never had an issue."

A Summer Hill woman was stunned to get a fine for blocking a driveway. Credit: Facebook.​

Ms Belfort explained that she has a chronic knee condition that makes it difficult for her to walk long distances. As a result, she was desperately looking for a location that was close to her house.

She also recalled that she had an altercation with her neighbours approximately two weeks ago, during which they complained about her parking in close proximity to their driveway.

"They had no manners. They said they're going to call the council," she said.

The fact that nothing came of it, however, leads Ms Belfort to believe that they did not go through with it. At least not until she drove back there and parked her car again.

She shared the image of her parked car on Facebook along with a statement in which she expressed her confusion regarding the penalty.

There were dozens of comments made on the post, the vast majority of which were in support of Ms Belfort and many of them encouraged her to contest the fine.

"It's close, but I can't see that you're obstructing the driveway at all. There is plenty of room to drive in and out,' one user wrote in the comments.

A second fellow driver agreed, saying: "My general rule is to ensure my car doesn't pass where the curb begins to dip for the driveway."

Ms Belfort stated that she would be appealing the decision, despite the fact that she did not have high hopes that it would be reversed.

Ms Belfort considers the fine to be unjust and intends to appeal it. Credit: Facebook.​

However, a spokesperson for the Inner West Council stated that the Summer Hill resident was in the wrong and verified that the council had received her appeal.

"Road rules note that no part of the vehicle should be on or across the driveway (including the layback)," the council stated.

"However, in this case, Council has reviewed the situation and will change the original fine to a caution."

What are your thoughts, folks? Was Ms Belfort really in the wrong here, or was she inappropriately reprimanded?

 

[relljube]

We have had people park like this with our driveway, it is very frustrating when it happens. As we live on a busy road we always back the car in the drive as it makes it easier to see when leaving the drive. When someone is parked close like that it is difficult to enter and leave the drive without swinging out wide to avoid their car. I agree she shouldn't have parked that close, but to arrange council to fine her is over the top. I went next door to the owner of the vehicle and asked nicely if they could move their car as it was at risk of being hit as we come and go into our drive. Very rarely do they park that close now.

I agree with you - if the vehicle is impeding your view of the road and you have an accident it is your bad luck. Not to mention the possibility of severe injury or worse. Bad knee of not - a little bit of consideration for her neighbour wouldn't go astray - just move the vehicle another 50cm - not hard and not much further to walk. Sorry but it is too late after an accident.

 

[Ezzy]

Irate woman slams 'ridiculous' fine for street parking – was she wrong?​

After parking her vehicle on a residential street in Sydney, a woman was taken aback to discover that she had been issued a $275 fine on the grounds that her vehicle had blocked a driveway.

​

Last week, when Elly Belfort arrived at her home in Summer Hill, which is located in the inner west of the city, she was surprised to see that her suburban street was jam-packed with vehicles.

She was able to park her Mini Cooper in a very tight place behind another vehicle because she was under the impression that there was sufficient room between the back of her vehicle and the driveway behind her.

The next morning, a hefty fine was waiting for her on her windshield.

"I assumed the neighbours probably called the council because I find it really hard to believe that a ranger would fine a car parked like that," said the resident. "I've parked my car like that many other times in many other places and never had an issue."

A Summer Hill woman was stunned to get a fine for blocking a driveway. Credit: Facebook.​

Ms Belfort explained that she has a chronic knee condition that makes it difficult for her to walk long distances. As a result, she was desperately looking for a location that was close to her house.

She also recalled that she had an altercation with her neighbours approximately two weeks ago, during which they complained about her parking in close proximity to their driveway.

"They had no manners. They said they're going to call the council," she said.

The fact that nothing came of it, however, leads Ms Belfort to believe that they did not go through with it. At least not until she drove back there and parked her car again.

She shared the image of her parked car on Facebook along with a statement in which she expressed her confusion regarding the penalty.

​

There were dozens of comments made on the post, the vast majority of which were in support of Ms Belfort and many of them encouraged her to contest the fine.

"It's close, but I can't see that you're obstructing the driveway at all. There is plenty of room to drive in and out,' one user wrote in the comments.

A second fellow driver agreed, saying: "My general rule is to ensure my car doesn't pass where the curb begins to dip for the driveway."

Ms Belfort stated that she would be appealing the decision, despite the fact that she did not have high hopes that it would be reversed.

Ms Belfort considers the fine to be unjust and intends to appeal it. Credit: Facebook.​

However, a spokesperson for the Inner West Council stated that the Summer Hill resident was in the wrong and verified that the council had received her appeal.

"Road rules note that no part of the vehicle should be on or across the driveway (including the layback)," the council stated.

"However, in this case, Council has reviewed the situation and will change the original fine to a caution."

​

What are your thoughts, folks? Was Ms Belfort really in the wrong here, or was she inappropriately reprimanded?

If l interpret the wording of the Council regulation concerning this incident (l believe this is standard in all Councils) & trying to judge where the fence would intersect the kerb, l think the Council is being very petty. There is possibly 10cm & no more between legal or not. The fact the Council backtracked on this matter could be a case of 'erring on the side of caution' or perhaps 'seen to be doing the right thing.' I wonder how much influence the neighbours had.

 

[KarenG]

Irate woman slams 'ridiculous' fine for street parking – was she wrong?​

After parking her vehicle on a residential street in Sydney, a woman was taken aback to discover that she had been issued a $275 fine on the grounds that her vehicle had blocked a driveway.

​

Last week, when Elly Belfort arrived at her home in Summer Hill, which is located in the inner west of the city, she was surprised to see that her suburban street was jam-packed with vehicles.

She was able to park her Mini Cooper in a very tight place behind another vehicle because she was under the impression that there was sufficient room between the back of her vehicle and the driveway behind her.

The next morning, a hefty fine was waiting for her on her windshield.

"I assumed the neighbours probably called the council because I find it really hard to believe that a ranger would fine a car parked like that," said the resident. "I've parked my car like that many other times in many other places and never had an issue."

A Summer Hill woman was stunned to get a fine for blocking a driveway. Credit: Facebook.​

Ms Belfort explained that she has a chronic knee condition that makes it difficult for her to walk long distances. As a result, she was desperately looking for a location that was close to her house.

She also recalled that she had an altercation with her neighbours approximately two weeks ago, during which they complained about her parking in close proximity to their driveway.

"They had no manners. They said they're going to call the council," she said.

The fact that nothing came of it, however, leads Ms Belfort to believe that they did not go through with it. At least not until she drove back there and parked her car again.

She shared the image of her parked car on Facebook along with a statement in which she expressed her confusion regarding the penalty.

​

There were dozens of comments made on the post, the vast majority of which were in support of Ms Belfort and many of them encouraged her to contest the fine.

"It's close, but I can't see that you're obstructing the driveway at all. There is plenty of room to drive in and out,' one user wrote in the comments.

A second fellow driver agreed, saying: "My general rule is to ensure my car doesn't pass where the curb begins to dip for the driveway."

Ms Belfort stated that she would be appealing the decision, despite the fact that she did not have high hopes that it would be reversed.

Ms Belfort considers the fine to be unjust and intends to appeal it. Credit: Facebook.​

However, a spokesperson for the Inner West Council stated that the Summer Hill resident was in the wrong and verified that the council had received her appeal.

"Road rules note that no part of the vehicle should be on or across the driveway (including the layback)," the council stated.

"However, in this case, Council has reviewed the situation and will change the original fine to a caution."

​

What are your thoughts, folks? Was Ms Belfort really in the wrong here, or was she inappropriately reprimanded?

This looks to be quite a narrow street. If cars parked directly opposite driveway entrance, the red car could make it difficult (for some people) to turn out of driveway, despite it's apparent width. A more informative photo would help. But yes, I would have thought that the red car had 'just' scraped in ok.

 

[Defiant540]

Wrong

NO!

 

[diesel dan]

Nit picking by the council. There is a pole in the way of the layback. How can the resident of that place drive out with that post there?

If the resident has trouble driving out of that driveway they should not have a license.

 

[diesel dan]

No doubt in the world, she was in the wrong, those limitations are not for the benefit of the person parking,but for the safety and ease of access of those entering and leaving the driveway, which in turn benefit others who might be using that road.

 

[Defiant540]

tHATS THE LAW IN vICITORIA

spelling???

 

[allwayswasalwayswillbe@gm]

Elly Belfort is a MALE. He received a parking fine. Males identifying as transgender "women" never asked women if they could use our word. He is not a transgender woman, he is not a woman and he is not a female. I am using HE because I am referring to his sex. Males demanding to be seen as women are predators.