Navigating the world of parking fines can be a headache at the best of times, but for many drivers in one Aussie state, the introduction of ticketless parking fines in 2020 added an extra layer of frustration.

Imagine the surprise and irritation of finding out you've been fined weeks after the fact, with no immediate notification at the time of the infringement.

Well, it seems the tide is turning, and the state is steering towards a more transparent approach to parking penalties.

In a move that's sure to be welcomed by motorists across the state, New South Wales council rangers will soon be prohibited from issuing ticketless parking fines.

This significant change mandates that rangers must provide an ‘on-the-spot notification’ to any vehicle that is subject to a fine.

This means that gone are the days when you could be blissfully unaware of a parking fine until it arrives in the mail, leaving you with little time or information to contest it.

NSW council rangers will now be required to issue on-the-spot notifications, such as stickers or traditional tickets, instead of ticketless parking fines, following new legislation by NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos and Premier Chris Minns. Credit: Instagram / Courtney Houssos

NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos, with the backing of NSW Premier Chris Minns, is set to legislate this change this month.

The new legislation will require rangers to place a sticker or a traditional parking ticket on the vehicle in question, ensuring that drivers are immediately aware of the penalty.

This change comes after a substantial increase in ticketless parking tickets issued by councils.

In the last financial year, there were 822,310 ticketless parking tickets handed out, a nearly 50 per cent increase from the previous year, which resulted in councils raking in a staggering $155 million.

It's clear that this system has been a lucrative one for councils, but not so much for the unsuspecting drivers on the receiving end.

There will be some exceptions to the rule, however.

Council rangers will reportedly still be allowed to issue ticketless fines in areas where signage is installed to inform drivers of this possibility or in locations with no phone reception, such as national parks or certain timed, enclosed carparks.

On Tuesday, Sunrise reporter Lucy McLeod discussed the significant changes.

‘These changes will hopefully give drivers more opportunity to dispute these fines,’ she said.

‘Often times (drivers) have no idea they’ve been fined until the fine arrives a couple of weeks later in the mail.’

‘The state government is hoping to change that, introducing legislation this month, which will see rangers forced or required to give on-the-spot notifications, whether that’s a sticker or just a traditional fine.’

‘Hopefully this will give drivers a bit more opportunity to contest them,’ McLeod added.

The frustration among drivers regarding the ticketless parking system has been palpable, and the government's decision to revert to ticketed penalties is seen as a response to the community's concerns.

Minister Houssos is hailing the shift away from ticketless fines as a ‘common sense’ move.

‘No one ever likes to get a parking fine, but the idea you only find out about a fine weeks later doesn’t pass the common sense test,’ she remarked.

‘Frustration among drivers and community members about the ticketless parking system is high—and that’s fair enough.’

‘The ticketless parking fine system was introduced by the previous government without regard for the impact on drivers and families,’ Minister Houssos continued.

Ticketless parking fines were first introduced in 2020 under former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian as a modern approach to parking enforcement.

However, the lack of immediate notification has been a point of contention for many drivers who felt blindsided by fines they had no knowledge of.

With these upcoming changes, drivers will have a better chance to contest fines they believe are unfair.

Immediate notification means you can take photos, gather evidence, or even move your vehicle if you've been fined incorrectly.

It's a win for transparency and fairness in the often murky waters of parking regulations.

Following the recent update where NSW council rangers are no longer allowed to issue ticketless parking fines, there's a growing concern about the surge in ‘invisible’ parking fines affecting Aussie drivers.

With this major change in parking penalty procedures, many drivers are left confused about how these new regulations impact their rights and responsibilities.

For those grappling with the confusion surrounding these ‘invisible’ fines, it’s important to stay informed and understand how this shift could affect you.

Key Takeaways

• NSW council rangers will no longer be able to issue ticketless parking fines; instead, they must provide an on-the-spot notification like a sticker or a traditional ticket.
• NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos will legislate the changes with the support of NSW Premier Chris Minns.
• The move came after councils issued over 800,000 ticketless parking tickets in the last financial year, causing frustration among drivers.
• The change is seen as a ‘common sense’ move to give drivers a better chance to dispute fines which they may not have been aware of until receiving them in the mail weeks later.

Have you ever been caught out by a ticketless parking fine? Do you think this new legislation will make a difference? We'd love to hear your experiences and opinions in the comments below!

 

[Kevin. A.]

They need to do this with speed cameras. What is the point besides revenue raising when you receive your speeding ticket in the mail two weeks later. My point is that speed cameras do not stop the driver speeding at the time of the offence. A driver can be completely oblivious to a speeding offence and may commit further speeding offences before the fines arrive in the mail. If the police and the government wish to reduce speeding, then surly police presence on the roads is the best way to reduce speeding. Not every driver is a deliberate speedster thumbing their nose up at the law. I have no sympathy for those who deliberately speed. However, I do not see why drivers should be used as cash cows to prop up government coffers.

 

[Chip]

Any car over THREE years old??? The mechanics must love that. And they used to call WA the Nanny State, talk about being over governed. One more yearly expense for NSW residents. Are you sure it's over three
years, that's not an old car.
How on earth would they know if you used your car more than 90 days during the year??

Definitely over three years old! Some people dont look after their cars, It's $60 forn the pink slip, and the mechanic has to go all over the car to check for roadworthiness. I find WA registration a joke! You can buy a car with WA registration and take it to any state and mail in your next years rego, no checking whatsoever! Even 40 year old vechicles! for the 90 days, you must keep a logbook of the days used and the mileage. If you're pulled over and no log book, fines and restrictions will apply. At least we're more confident there arent bombs on the road!

 

[mylittletibbies]

Definitely over three years old! Some people dont look after their cars, It's $60 forn the pink slip, and the mechanic has to go all over the car to check for roadworthiness. I find WA registration a joke! You can buy a car with WA registration and take it to any state and mail in your next years rego, no checking whatsoever! Even 40 year old vechicles! for the 90 days, you must keep a logbook of the days used and the mileage. If you're pulled over and no log book, fines and restrictions will apply. At least we're more confident there arent bombs on the road!

I totally agree with you that some people don't look after their cars but those type of people don't generally have three year old cars, they usually have bombs.
A three year old car, these days, costs a lot of money and the people who drive around in old bombs do so because they can't afford anything better.
A three year old car is still under warranty.
At the rate mechanics charge these days what sort of a job would they do for $60.
Sorry, but I still think that system is an overreach.
That being said I do agree that WA could up their game.

 

[Ezzy]

My car is 21 years old & needs a new paint job but mechanically, according to the service centre, is in good condition, is without rust, done less than 200,000 km & yes, l cannot afford to update.

Not a bomb l think & possibly an oddity in this case.

 

[Me-Ant]

I don’t think that ”no phone reception“ should stop rangers from issuing parking tickets…