Driving is more than just about enjoying the free road; it also comes with a few challenges.

One of these challenges is finding an adequate parking space in a neighbourhood area.

A local tradie recently found himself in the crosshairs of a parking enforcement system that many started questioning.


Builder Mark Fricker faced a hefty $320 fine for parking across his driveway—a common occurrence for many drivers who want to come home.

The incident unfolded last September when Fricker got caught by a council camera.

He momentarily stopped his ute across his driveway to open his gate.

Two of his vehicle's wheels rested in the gutter of the bus zone in front of his property.


Ten days later, Fricker received a letter from the council, accusing him of parking in a bus zone.

The fine was the result of Newcastle's mobile licence plate recognition technology.

The new system started employing cameras mounted on council vehicles to patrol the city and monitor parking offences.

This automated system has been a point of contention, as it lacked human discretion.


Fricker, feeling the sting of an 'unfair' fine, shared that the situation would have likely been dismissed under different circumstances.

'If it had been a person and not a car, they would not have issued the fine,' he argued.

His attempts to resolve the matter with the council were fruitless.

He was redirected to Revenue NSW, which left him with no choice but to take the argument to the court.

The City of Newcastle, represented by NSW Police, should face Fricker in Newcastle Local Court next month.


Fricker's dispute was not an isolated incident.

NSW saw a 49 per cent increase in ticketless parking fines during the 2023-24 financial year.

Meanwhile, revenue from these fines jumped to $158 million—a 54 per cent rise from the previous year.

With over 40 councils adopting the ticketless system, drivers started getting frustrated with the inability to contest fines until they get notified days or weeks later.


NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos started pushing for reforms for the rule.

'The current implementation of the ticketless parking system has eroded trust in the parking fine system,' she wrote.

'Providing immediate notification to drivers is the right thing to do.'

As Fricker prepares for his day in court, his story resonated with many drivers who have experienced the frustration of automated parking fines.

It raised important questions about the balance between efficient enforcement and the need for human judgment.
Have you been affected by automated parking fines recently? Is there a better way to handle minor parking infractions? Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!