Parking Fine in Rockdale NSW

derkyft on 22/09/2015 - 15:16

Hello all,

Recently my girlfriend had received a parking ticket for "obstruction of a driveway/pathway" in Rockdale NSW. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I've tried contacting the state revenue office asking for photographic evidence. They directed me to the council, which I can understand as they might not be the ones who keep the records. I asked the council for the photos of the offence as I'd like to at least have proof before paying the fine. However, I've just received an email saying the following:

"6 photographs were taken at the time of the offence but there is a fee of
$38.00 for 1 to 3 photos and a $17.00 fee for any additional photos.

Payment can only be made at Rockdale City Council 2 Bryant St Rockdale.

Any inquiries please do not hesitate to call me."

This is somewhat infuriating as, from my point of view, they can simply accuse people of committing parking offences and then charge money for the evidence. Either way, the council gets money. We might just have to end up paying this fine, but I just found it ridiculous and wanted to see if anyone else had similar experiences…

Automotive

Comments

  • nocure on 22/09/2015 - 15:20
    -2

    Just pay it…

  • Davo1111 on 22/09/2015 - 15:33

    Did she park in a way that obstructed a driveway/pathway?

    • derkyft on 22/09/2015 - 15:50

      She said she didn't so I will give her the benefit of the doubt. That's why I wanted to get the photographic evidence :(

      • Davo1111 on 22/09/2015 - 15:56

        Just get her to pay it. Or attend court.

      • Sweetnsour on 23/09/2015 - 13:15

        In hindsight she shouldve taken photo of her car and driveway. That way you could prove/disprove in court.

  • tomleonhart on 22/09/2015 - 15:47

    That seems excessive however i don't think your POV can stand.

    "This is somewhat infuriating as, from my point of view, they can simply accuse people of committing parking offences and then charge money for the evidence. " -> What if you really pay for the evidence and they can't issue it because they issue a false fine? Wouldn't that get them into a lot more trouble for a couple of hundred bucks ?

    • derkyft on 22/09/2015 - 15:52
      +2

      Yea, that's a valid point. It just seems very pricey to get evidence of the event. It's just a photo, they should be willing to reveal it so the offender won't have anything to say but to pay the fine?

      • tomleonhart on 22/09/2015 - 15:56

        I agree it's pretty pricey… I suppose they calculate the wage of the guy who's gonna have to do the work to send it to you. :-/

        • airzone on 22/09/2015 - 23:29

          Speaking from experience, Rockdale used to send it to you for free. But I suppose it's another cash grab.

  • Mikinoz on 22/09/2015 - 16:04
    +4

    Next time take a photo when you receive a fine and use it as your own evidence if you want to dispute

    • Thenarrator on 22/09/2015 - 21:57
      +2

      whos to say u didnt move the car afterwards with the fine still on the windscreen?

      • anon2804 on 23/09/2015 - 23:56

        Haha, that would be interesting in court!

  • oscargamer on 22/09/2015 - 16:25

    take it to court, they will produce the photos for free, then plea guilty or not

    • nomoneynoproblems on 22/09/2015 - 17:02

      What about time taken off work to attend court. I'm sure it would be a lot more than the 30 odd bucks they're asking.

    • Davo1111 on 24/09/2015 - 01:18

      AFAIK you can be charged court fees

  • cypher67 on 22/09/2015 - 17:41
    +2

    You're not asking to have the photos printed on A1 …. providing digital copies should be simple and free, this feels like extortion.
    This is worth a watch.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gkiw7zpULo

    • Thenarrator on 22/09/2015 - 22:02

      lmao wish it'd go as smoothly as that video.

    • anon2804 on 24/09/2015 - 00:04

      try that in Australia and you'd get shot down pretty quickly… the parking inspectors would also take a better picture though.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/09/2015 - 04:25
    +1

    there is a fee of $38.00 for 1 to 3 photos and a $17.00 fee for any additional photos.

    Did you check if the photos were available on the SDRO myPenalty website?

    If they are not, ask the council if there is a no-cost option to view the photo at the council office.

    • derkyft on 23/09/2015 - 11:28

      Thanks, we checked there and they referred us to Rockdale council. Since it was getting close to the due date (extra $60 odd dollars), we appealed and will need to go to court. I can just picture it now… The judge holds out their hand to ask for the photos, the council representative holds out their hand and goes "That'd be $38 dollars"….. lol

  • boccos on 23/09/2015 - 08:22

    My view is that we all get away with parking/speeding/other offenses, by not getting caught. So when I do get a traffic/council fine I just pay it, even though I may consider it unfair or wrong. Anything more serious than these I would fight if I thought it was wrong.

    • anon2804 on 24/09/2015 - 00:00

      True, but worth writing a letter first before paying.
      However, there are always extremes - I know people who write a letter every time and always get let off and those who have never got let off even on their first letter!

      My brother was driving at over 100mph in a 60mph zone and saw a copper, slowed and passed the copper at 80. The officer asked him if he knew why he had been pulled over. My brother apologised and said he had been speeding and the officer let him off! I got done for 64mph in a 60 and got done!

  • Euphemistic on 24/09/2015 - 08:02

    It takes time for a council worker to find and send the files, that is why they charge. They also charge you a fee becuase it means you are serious if you pay the amount and aren't just wasting everybody's time.

    If you really need to see the photos to prove you didn't do it, you might be surprised at the pictures you get. A council has nothing to gain by issuing fines that won't stand up in court. Yes, sometimes they get it wrong but mostly they are not going to bother issuing a fine unless the evidence will stand up.

  • derkyft on 02/05/2019 - 14:57
    +3

    Just saw this in my post history and thought I'd leave a record of what happened. Sorry for digging up a super old thread.

    We went to Court and they had to provide the photos for evidence. The police officer who took the photos was there and basically, it showed that my gf's (now wife) car had crossed over the line of the kerb where it starts to slope down becoming the driveway, by 1-2cm (you'd need to examine the photo super carefully to pick it out). Our legal rep told us that it was a ridiculously harsh fine, and the judge let us go without paying the fine, and told us to be more careful next time…

    Technically we're in the wrong, but it makes me wonder if that cop just wanted to spend half the day at court and get paid for it …

    • whooah1979 on 02/05/2019 - 15:00

      Thanks for the update.

      It's good to hear that the legal system have some common sense.

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