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!

 

[mylittletibbies]

A win for the ordinary people, about time.
My family moved to NSW about 18 months ago and can't believe how different it is from WA.
They hadn't commented on the parking, but definitely the toll roade and pink slips for cars.
Wanting to get a small run around car for his wife my son said he couldn't believe how difficult this was with so many cars bring sold unregistered because of these slips, whatever the heck they are.
Another money raiser for the NSW government.
How do people afford to live there.

 

[Greg350]

A win for the ordinary people, about time.
My family moved to NSW about 18 months ago and can't believe how different it is from WA.
They hadn't commented on the parking, but definitely the toll roade and pink slips for cars.
Wanting to get a small run around car for his wife my son said he couldn't believe how difficult this was with so many cars bring sold unregistered because of these slips, whatever the heck they are.
Another money raiser for the NSW government.
How do people afford to live there.

A pink slip is issued by a mechanic saying the car is road worthy. Better than having thousands of dangerous vehicles on the road that have not been looked at for maybe decades. You know what WA stands for.........Wait Awhile.

 

[Ezzy]

Definitely a common sense move by the NSW GOVERNMENT.
Not very often a Government can be seen doing the right thing by its citizens.
No citizen wants to know weeks or more down the track about the fine.
I wonder how many or if any of those fines may have been issued to drivers who had not offended at all?
(Similar to the recent story where drivers were pinged when they were clearly within the time limit for that location & hadn't parked longer than allowed)

 

[mylittletibbies]

A pink slip is issued by a mechanic saying the car is road worthy. Better than having thousands of dangerous vehicles on the road that have not been looked at for maybe decades. You know what WA stands for.........Wait Awhile.

That doesn't stop a lot of old cars still being on the roads, people drive around in old cars for years, it only catches the ones being sold.
You're a bit behind the times with "Wait Awhile".
It's "We're Ahead", if you hadn't noticed WA keeps the country afloat, without our mining industry and GST revenue, which the Eastern States were having a wonderful time pillaging, the rest of the country would be in dire straights. Meanwhile the eastern states don't declare their massive incomes made from pokie machines, mmmmm.
You don't see too many people leaving WA and heading east to live but there's sure a lot of them coming this way.

 

[Arg]

I got a ticketless fine a few months ago, issued while my wife and I were in the car. The letter in the mail had a photo of the back of our car; it must have been taken without even stopping, in the manner of a drive-by shooting (with a camera ).

The parking officer could have simply pulled up and told us to move on because we can't stand there, which would have fixed any traffic problem we might have been causing, whereas the way they did it meant we were accidentally impeding traffic flow for much longer. But hey, they make more money that way.

 

[cheriearnold]

Qld should follow this example

 

[Squizzy1]

Can they get any more devious, and if U ever had any doubt who the Councils work for this ought to have set them to rest.

 

[PattiB]

That doesn't stop a lot of old cars still being on the roads, people drive around in old cars for years, it only catches the ones being sold.
You're a bit behind the times with "Wait Awhile".
It's "We're Ahead", if you hadn't noticed WA keeps the country afloat, without our mining industry and GST revenue, which the Eastern States were having a wonderful time pillaging, the rest of the country would be in dire straights. Meanwhile the eastern states don't declare their massive incomes made from pokie machines, mmmmm.
You don't see too many people leaving WA and heading east to live but there's sure a lot of them coming this way.

Must tell my son WA means We’re Ahead but don’t think he’ll agree. He moved to Perth over 20 years ago & thought it was a bit backward, especially trading hours. It took him a few years to adjust but he regards himself as a West Australian now. We have a lot of former WA residents living in Tasmania which astounds me. I know where I’d prefer to be & it’s not freezing in Tassie, but my husband doesn’t want to move. I do agree with you on how the mining industry supports the rest of us. Enjoy your day in the warmth.
Patricia

 

[mylittletibbies]

Must tell my son WA means We’re Ahead but don’t think he’ll agree. He moved to Perth over 20 years ago & thought it was a bit backward, especially trading hours. It took him a few years to adjust but he regards himself as a West Australian now. We have a lot of former WA residents living in Tasmania which astounds me. I know where I’d prefer to be & it’s not freezing in Tassie, but my husband doesn’t want to move. I do agree with you on how the mining industry supports the rest of us. Enjoy your day in the warmth.
Patricia

It's a beautiful day, shall spend it in my garden.
I do agree with your son about the shopping hours, we need some catching up there. Still I would never go back to Vic where I originally came from.
I've been here 50 years now.
Enjoy your day, perhaps not so warm in Tassie,but I have been told it's very beautiful
Trish (also)

 

[PattiB]

It's a beautiful day, shall spend it in my garden.
I do agree with your son about the shopping hours, we need some catching up there. Still I would never go back to Vic where I originally came from.
I've been here 50 years now.
Enjoy your day, perhaps not so warm in Tassie,but I have been told it's very beautiful
Trish (also)

Tassie is beautiful & very different from the west & of course it’s cold today and raining. Our winter has been brutal, very cold up north. But we’re travelling west for Christmas with our son & staying for 6 weeks. My husband will hate the heat but I’ve told him I endure the cold so he can survive for a few weeks. We can’t wait to see our (only) son.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Tassie is beautiful & very different from the west & of course it’s cold today and raining. Our winter has been brutal, very cold up north. But we’re travelling west for Christmas with our son & staying for 6 weeks. My husband will hate the heat but I’ve told him I endure the cold so he can survive for a few weeks. We can’t wait to see our (only) son.

And I shall be travelling to NSW, also to visit my son.
Since my husband passed recently, my son wants me to move across with him, but while I'm still reasonably fit and healthy and can still look after my daughter I'll stay here in the West.
Enjoy your Xmas trip West.

 

[Towing]

In SA you have to walk to get your ticket to put in your car. It can be 5 minutes before you return to your car. In the meantime the inspector can come along and give you a parking fine. They used to mark peoples' tyres. They were supposed to mark the tread, not the side wall. If it is a car used for professional such as wedding it meant the tyre had to be cleaned asap, very difficult if you are on the way to a wedding. A few inspectors got assaulted so they changed the method. They also now take photos of the number plate. At least a person with an entirely different car don't receive a ticket incorrectly. I know somebody who got a bill in the mail - incorrect rego, brand, colour. The person who received the ticket handn't even driven through that area and cerainly not parked there.

 

[Ezzy]

In SA you have to walk to get your ticket to put in your car. It can be 5 minutes before you return to your car. In the meantime the inspector can come along and give you a parking fine. They used to mark peoples' tyres. They were supposed to mark the tread, not the side wall. If it is a car used for professional such as wedding it meant the tyre had to be cleaned asap, very difficult if you are on the way to a wedding. A few inspectors got assaulted so they changed the method. They also now take photos of the number plate. At least a person with an entirely different car don't receive a ticket incorrectly. I know somebody who got a bill in the mail - incorrect rego, brand, colour. The person who received the ticket handn't even driven through that area and cerainly not parked there.

I hope the person who ticketed this car had to explain to Supervisors how he/she got it so wrong.

 

[Staffordshire Whippet]

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

This is not true. Tickets were routinely mailed out to the registered owners of vehicles from even back in the 1990s in circumstances where the vehicle departed the scene of the offence before the Notice could be completed and served on the vehicle windscreen. This mainly occurred for offences where public safety was the issue (think prohibitive signage written in red, like No Stopping etc.,) rather than public amenity (think signage written green, like permissive signs advising time-limits or metered parking).

What happened since 2020, however, was that Councils got greedy for the revenue (or is that 'greedier'?) and cited Occupational Health and Safety concerns regarding the Parking Officers as the pretext for wholesale mailing-out. In seeking to maximise revenue while minimising on-the-job time, the Councils have effectively killed their own Golden Goose.

 

[Luckyus]

In Victoria under this current government things will only get worse.

 

[Chip]

That doesn't stop a lot of old cars still being on the roads, people drive around in old cars for years, it only catches the ones being sold.
You're a bit behind the times with "Wait Awhile".
It's "We're Ahead", if you hadn't noticed WA keeps the country afloat, without our mining industry and GST revenue, which the Eastern States were having a wonderful time pillaging, the rest of the country would be in dire straights. Meanwhile the eastern states don't declare their massive incomes made from pokie machines, mmmmm.
You don't see too many people leaving WA and heading east to live but there's sure a lot of them coming this way.

Wrong. It doesn't just catch the cars being sold. Any vehicle over three years old in NSW must have an annual safety check by a certified mechanic for roadworthy. A car may be fifty years old and it will still require a pink slip every year, if the vehicle is used more than 90 days a year!

 

[Annna]

That doesn't stop a lot of old cars still being on the roads, people drive around in old cars for years, it only catches the ones being sold.
You're a bit behind the times with "Wait Awhile".
It's "We're Ahead", if you hadn't noticed WA keeps the country afloat, without our mining industry and GST revenue, which the Eastern States were having a wonderful time pillaging, the rest of the country would be in dire straights. Meanwhile the eastern states don't declare their massive incomes made from pokie machines, mmmmm.
You don't see too many people leaving WA and heading east to live but there's sure a lot of them coming this way.

The pink slip is needed every year in order to re-register a car.

Motorists need to have their car inspected every year to have a pink slip issued.

Issues (if any) with the car are discovered at this time and must be addressed so that a pink slip can be issued.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Wrong. It doesn't just catch the cars being sold. Any vehicle over three years old in NSW must have an annual safety check by a certified mechanic for roadworthy. A car may be fifty years old and it will still require a pink slip every year, if the vehicle is used more than 90 days a year!

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??

 

[Annna]

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??

Yes the pink slip is required for re-registration.

In QLD, a Roadworthy Cert is only needed when selling, but the lack of annual inspection allows for more cars that may be unroadworthy to be on roads.